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TRIBUTE 



PRINCIPLES, YIRTUES, HABITS AND PUBLIC USEFULNESS 



Jris!) au& Scotcl] (garlij Settlers 



OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



BT A DESCENDANT. 



G^e.oYg£ Cn ambers 



CHAMBERSBURG, PA. : 

PRINTED BY M. KIEFFER & CO, 

1856. 



PEEFACE. 

The writer of the Tribute contained in this work, had long desired to 
see from the Historical publications in Pennsylvania, a vindication of 
the character and principles of the Irish and Scotch early settlers of 
this great State and their descendants against reproach, as well as 
aspersion, cast upon them in some modern compilations having pre- 
tensions to Historical accuracy. 

Appreciating highly the religious and moral character, intelligence, 
industry and energy of those settlers, as well as their great useful- 
ness in raising the standard of education — in promoting religious 
Christian influence — in defending the frontier against the wars of the 
French and Indians, and in their patriotic devotion of their lives and 
fortunes to the cause of American Independence; he did think if 
there were any class of citizens of Pennsylvania entitled to gratitude 
and reverence, not only from their descendants, but from all others 
enjoying the blessings of a home and residence under this free gov- 
ernment, it was the Irish and Scotch early settlers of Pennsylvania. 

The events in the lives of these men, and the incidents of the times 
in. which they were actors, political, civil, religious or military, which 
led; to the prosperity of the State and the establishment of the free 
institutions under which we live, prosper and are happy, should be 
to every American citizen objects of peculiar interest. 

Instead of acknowledgments of gratitude and reverence for the men 
who were the pioneers of the Province of Pennsylvania, laying broad 
and deep the foundations of its prosperity and republican government, 
we have been chagrined to find them slighted in some historical com- 
pilations of Pennsylvania History; whilst by others, we have been 
incensed at the unjust and unfounded aspersions cast upon the race. 

Having the blood of some of those early settlers flowing in our 
veins, and having been born, ever lived and prospered on Pennsylva- 
nia soil; we feel as if we were under obligations, in common with many 



IV. PREFACE. 

others, to come up to the vindication of the reputation of ancestors, 
who long since have rested from their labors, and who, by toil and 
sacrifices, did much to achieve the inheritance which their posterity 
and others are enjoying. 

We have presumed to offer the sketch herein contained as our 
Tribute to the memory and reverence of those settlers. The writer, 
feeling as if the sand of his Time glass was nearly run out, and that 
he ere long must be laid aside from labor, and that if any thing were 
done by him in vindication of the principles, virtues and habits, of 
these settlers of a past age, it must be done quickly — has hastily 
thrown together in his leisure hours, taken from other avocations, the 
remarks contained in the subsequent pages. 

It has little merit, other than a compilation from public documents, 
historical records, and traditions from reliable sources, together with 
some observations of the writer, whose reminiscences go into the past 
century. 

It is but a summary of facts and illustrations and an outline to be 
extended by some one better qualified, having more time and better 
access to historical collections of the early history of Pennsylvania, of 
which there is a dearth. It will be ample gratification to him if this 
Tribute shall be a leader to some more extended vindication of the 
character of the Irish and Scotch early settlers of Pennsylvania, which 
will be worthy of a place amongst the historical records of this great 
State. 

The author acknowledges his obligations for information, in the 
preparation of this work, to Dr. Foote's Sketches of North Carolina — 
and Virginia — Day's Historical collections— Dr. Smith's Old Eed- 
stone — Dr. Alexander's Log College — Dr. Miller's Life of Dr. Kogers 

Dr. Elliott's Life of McCurdy and others — Craig's History of 

Pittsburg — Hazard's Colonial Records and Archives of Pennsylvania, 
and American Archives by Force — and Gordon's History of Penn- 
sylvania — Mr. Ptupp's — Histories of Lancaster^ Cumberland and 
Franklin counties. 

Chambersburg, Pa. G-. C. 



CHAPTER I. 

Classes of Emigrants—Dissensions — Rivalries — James Logan 
— Dickinson — Franklin in opposition to Emigrants — Mr. 
Day's accusation — Trespasses on Lands claimed hy Indians 
— Their complaints — Redress — Other causes of dissatisfac- 
tion with the ivhite Inhabitants and Proprietory Agents — 
Traders — and French Influence — Causes of War. 
The Province of Pennsylvania was early attractive to emi- 
grants from other countries. It was recommended by its free 
and constitutional government — by the character of its funda- 
mental Laws, adopted and established by the first emigrants to 
. its territory — its fertile soil, salubrious and temperate climate 
— its adaptation to a large and rural population; with advan- 
tages for trade, commerce and manufactures. The dissatis- 
faction prevailing with large classes of intelligent, industrious 
and enterprising men, under several of the European govern- 
ments, directed their attention to the American colonies, and 
to men of this character, Pennsylvania was generally preferred 
for their abode, after the organization of its government. 

The population of Pennsylvania was made up of emigrants 
from various parts of Europe. They were not homogeneous, 
but were diversified by their origin, religious principles, habits, 
and language. They were united in devotion to the principles 
of the Reformation, and in favor of civil and religious liberty. 
Equality of rights and the liberty of worship according to the 
dictates of conscience, were standard principles so founded and 
guarded, that no party or power dared to assail them. These 
established and avowed principles made Pennsylvania a desira- 
ble asylum for the oppressed and persecuted of all nations. 

The diversity which characterized the inhabitants, divided 
them into three classes, whose separation was maintained un- 
broken for some generations, and is not even yet effaced. They 
were the English, the Scots and Irish, and the Germans. The 
associates and followers of Penn, who were amongst the first 



to establish Iier government, were an honest, intelligent, virtu- 
ous, peaceful and benevolent population, known in England 
and the Colonies by the name of Friends or Quakers. Much 
of the wealth of the Province was with them, and as their loca- 
tion was in the city of Philadelphia, or in the country near it, 
they were influential in the organization of the Provincial gov- 
ernment. They were able also, from their numbers, to main- 
tain an ascendency in the Assembly, and control its legislation. 
As the Proprietory was, in his associations and principles, of 
their Society, there was generally harmony and correspondent 
sentiment between the Quaker part}?- and the Proprietory and 
the oJBficers- of his. appointment, most of whom were of the So- 
ciety of Friends. The Quakers were an orderly, industrious 
and law abiding people, cultivating peace with all men. They 
had their peculiarities of dress, manners, language and religious 
worship, opposition to war and military service, which distin- 
guished them from the other population of the Province. 

The Germans were of different denominations of Christians 
and various origin. The Swiss Mennonites were amongst the 
earliest w^ho entered this Province, about the beginning of the 
last century. They came in considerable numbers and settled 
in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, about Pequea and other 
parts of what formed Lancaster county. They were orderly, 
industrious and frugal, farmers ; peaceful and honest in all 
their relations and dealings. They resembled the Quakers in 
opposition to war and military service, and in maintenance of 
peace principles. The Lutheran and German Reformed Ger- 
mans, who had been emigrating since 1710, settled before 1720 
in considerable numbers in parts of what are now in the coun- 
ties of Montgomery, Bucks, Berks and Lancaster. Others of 
the same class continued to arrive yearly, and in some years 
the influx of these German emigrants was so great as to alarm 
some of the English first settlers, lest the Germans should 
make a German province of Pennsylvania. Amongst these 
Germans, though mostly Lutheran and German Reformed, 
there were some Mennonites and Dunkards. 

The French Huguenots who settled in Pennsylvania were 
but fewj some of whom settled about 1712 on Pequea creek, 



which seems to have been an attractive country for settlement 
to emigrants from different parts of Europe. 

These Germans were a hardy, frugal and industrious people, 
and in many districts have preserved their foreign manners 
and language. They have established in every part of the 
State, communities much respected for religious and moral 
character ; many of them emigrated for conscience' sake, and 
others to improve their condition and circumstances. Their 
industry and frugality have enabled them to add greatly to 
their own wealth and resources, whilst they were increasing 
that of the Province and State. With most of this class, edu- 
cation has been promoted and their descendants, in acquire- 
ments and intelligence, are in advance of their ancestors, and 
many are amongst the most respectable and useful citizens of 
the Commonwealth, whilst they have, by branches of their 
families, contributed greatly to the industrious and useful pop- 
ulation of several of the Western States. 

Emigrants from Scotland and Ireland constituted a large 
portion of the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Many of these 
were called Scotch-Irish, from the circumstance that they were 
the descendants of Scots, who had by the government been 
encouraged to take up their residence in the north of Ireland, 
and to the improvement and civilization of which they had 
greatly contributed ; but being oppressed by the tyranny and 
exactions of a despotic and profligate monarch, and the re- 
strictions and penalties imposed by an obsequious parliament, 
as well as the intolerance and persecutions of a haughty hierar- 
chy, expatriated themselves, with their families to the Ameri- 
can colonies. To these were added many of the native Irish 
from the north of Ireland, as well as emigrants from Scotland. 
Pennsylvania was the selection of most of them, when they 
considered, that, under the charter of Penn and the fundamen- 
tal laws of the Province, they could enjoy civil and religious 
liberty. They sought an asylum from Church and State intol- 
erance and oppression, if it were to be had only in the wilder- 
ness of another continent, under a government of equal rights. 
They were nearly all Presbyterians in their Church relations, 
and many of them had settled in Pennsylvania before the close- 
of the seventeenth century. 



8 

The emigrants from Ireland and Scotland approached so 
close in national character, and were so congenial in sentiments, 
habits and religious principles, having in the land from which 
they emigrated, suffered from common grievances, that they 
were identified as one people. As professors of religion, they 
united in church organizations and worshipped together at the 
same Christian altars. 

The first settlements of this class were in Bucks county, 
but chiefly in the territory, which, in 1729, was organized into 
the county of Lancaster. Settlements were made in it about 
1717, on Octorora creek, and about the same time or earlier, 
in Pequea, and in 1722 in Donegal and Paxton. In 1730 and 
'34, the same class of emigrants, with the license of the Pro- 
prietory government, located themselves in the Kittochtinny 
valley, west of the Susquehanna, where they increased rapidly 
and in a few years formed there a large, respectable and influ- 
ential community. 

Under a free government of equal rights, with political 
power accessible to all the citizens, it was to be expected that 
amongst these different classes or races of emigrants, there 
would be rivalries and competition, as well as jealousies of 
ascendency and political power. They would be apt to differ 
in their opinions of public measures, as well as in their predi- 
lections for the men who were to establish measures or execute 
them. 

The Quakers had the advantage of the other classes, that 
they were parties to the first organization of the government, 
and in the establishment of the three first counties of Phila- 
delphia, Chester and Bucks, and in regulating their represen- 
tation. In those counties they had the majority of the inhab- 
itants, which enabled them to elect as members of Assembly 
and Council, such as were entirely acceptable to them. 

Their majority in the Assembly, which prevailed for a long 
time, made its legislation to conform to their wishes and prin- 
ciples ; the Proprietory, who belonged to their Society, being 
disposed generally to cooperate with them. 

From the great influx of emigrants from Ireland, Scotland 
and Germany, there was every prospect, that the control of the 



Legislature of the provincial government would pass from the 
hands of the Quakers into that of one of these other classes, 
and that they, who had been instrumental in establishing the 
government and putting it in operation, should be reduced to a 
powerless minority. 

In the early administration of the Provincial government, 
James Logan was a prominent, intelligent and influential mem- 
ber, being for many years a member of Council, and also the 
President of Council, as well as enjoying other high and im- 
portant offices. Though of Irish origin, he had become affili- 
ated with the Society of Friends, of which he professed to be 
one. He adopted their principles and manifested his willing- 
ness to maintain them, except he was disposed to go further 
for the defence of the country against its enemies, and was 
not entirely adverse to all military measures. 

He had, however, the confidence of the Quaker party, who 
retained him in influential stations of the government, as long 
as his health and age would allow. Logan saw clearly, from 
the accession which the Province was yearly receiving of sub- 
stantial, intelligent and respectable emigrants from Scotland 
and Ireland, that the Quaker rule in the government would be 
restrained or supplanted. He knew well the character of his 
countrymen, to be inquisitive, energetic, and independent. 
They would know their rights, and knowing them, would dare 
to maintain them without the fear of man. It was not to be 
expected that men, who had scrutinized and contested the 
powers of a royal government, were going to live passive un- 
der the administration of a government in which they had 
equal rights with all its citizens. The day must come, when 
their voice would be heard, felt and respected in the govern- 
ment of the Province. 

They did exercise their right of suifrage at the elections in 
Lancaster and York counties, in opposition to the candidate 
selected from and supported by the Quakers. They were 
sometimes successful in their opposition, and in the election of 
their own candidates. In these election contests there was 
much excitement and feeling, and they were attended with ir- 
regularities, disorder and breaches of the peace discreditable 



10 

to the authors; yet, these excesses were short of like disorders 
and of the frauds committed on the elective franchise, in these 
days of progress and refinement, under the laws of our great 
, Republic, and which are to be reprobated as great public 
oftences, subversive of the rights of the citizens and the purity 
of elections, and reproachful to the law and its officers. In 
these election contests the Germans generally took part with 
the Friends and supported their candidates. The German 
Mennonites accorded so much with the Quakers, in their oppo- 
sition to military service, supplies or measures of defence, 
that they were the partisans of the candidate supported by the 
Quakers. About this time James Logan began to undervalue 
his countrymen, and speak disparagingly of emigrants from 
Ireland, as being undesirable settlers. 

In 1729 he expresses " himself glad to find that the Parlia- 
r ment is about to take measures to prevent their too free emi- 
gration to this country." " It looks," says he, " as if Ireland 
is to send all her inhabitants hither ; for last week not less than 
six ships arrived, and every day two or three arrive also. The 
common fear is, that if they continue to come, they will make 
themselves proprietors of the province." "It is. strange," 
says he, " that they thus crowd where they are not wanted." 
What made him pronounce them " audacious and disorderly," 
was, that they entered on and settled lands in the southern 
part of Lancaster county, towards the Maryland line, " York 
Barrens," without approaching him to propose to purchase, 
and when challenged for their titles, said, as their excuse, 
"that the Proprietory and his agents had solicited for colo-, 
nists and that they had come accordingly." 

And in 1725 he complains " that there are so much as one 
hundred thousand acres of land possessed by persons (including 
Germans), who resolutely set down and improve lands, without 
any right, and he is much at a loss to determine how to dispos- 
sess them." 

He also represents the Irish emigrants as " troublesome 
settlers to the government and hard neighbors to the Indians." 
In placing an estimate upon the opinions of Logan, respecting 
the Irish emigrants, regard must be had to his position at the 



11 

time in the government. He had so long enjoyed a command- 
ing influence in the affairs of this government, under Quaker 
rule, that he was jealous of any povs'-er that would thwart him 
in measures and policy, or impair his influence. There were 
parties under the provincial government, as well as under that 
of the Commonwealth. The Governor had his friends and par- 
tisans and the Assembly theirs ; whilst the Council went with 
one or the other as they were inclined. Between these there 
were conflicts in the exercise of their respective powers that 
were marked with feeling and excitement. Logan was the 
leader of the Proprietory party and had to encounter often 
opposition and defeat from the Assembly. The Irish and 
Scotch vote in the Province was becoming larger, and com- 
manding, and often exercised control in the election of mem- 
bers of Assembly and other officers. Logan had occasion to 
know its power and opposition, and would have preferred an 
unbroken influence in the Council and in the measures of gov- 
ernment. He was generally in opposition to Governor Keith, 
decidedly the best and most popular of the Proprietory depu- 
ties, and was thus arrayed against the popular will, of which 
the intelligent and patriotic emigrants of Ireland and Scotland 
were influential exponents. There is much reason to believe 
that it was this limitation on his power in the government, 
that made him hostile to Irish and Scotch emio-ration, and led him 
to speak disparagingly of their character, as well as disposed to 
adopt the policy of restraining their emigration into the Pro- 
yince, by prohibition or taxation. 

His declaration was " that the common fear is, that if they 
continue to come, they will make themselves Proprietors of the 
Province." He would have preferred that the government 
should continue permanently under the rule of the Quaker 
party, though the population of the Province could be number- 
ed by hundreds, and its cultivated lands by a hand-breadth. 

A like prejudice was exhibited about the same period, in 
another quarter, against the German influence in the Province. 
The influx of German emigrants was so great as to cause alarm 
to some politicians. It was feared by them " that the numbers 
from Germany, at the rate they were coming, in 1725-'27, 



12 

will soon," as Jonathan Dickinson expressed himself at the time, 
"produce a German colony here, and perhaps such an one as 
Britain once received from Saxony." Jonathan Dickinson 
was respected for integrity and intelligence, having the public 
confidence. He had held the offices of Chief Justice of the 
Province, Speaker of the Assembly, and member of Council. 
This apprehension led to the imposition of a tax, by the As- 
sembly, on German emigrants, to discourage their emigration 
to this Province. 

Even the great, liberal and sagacious Franklin, allowed pre- 
judice to influence his gigantic mind, in the view which he took 
of the German population of Pennsylvania, when, in 1755, he 
addressed the British public in favor of excluding any more 
Germans from the colonies.* Franklin, we might suppose, would 
have discriminated between the intelligent, moral and indus- 
trious portion of the German population, that were desirable 
as settlers, for good and useful habits, and who in time would 
comprehend their relations to a new government and conform 
to its requisitions, and the immense swarms of Palatine Boors 
who were landed in the Province, ignorant, indolent, unruly 
and vicious. 

In those days of party divisions and dissensions, this emi- 
nent and patriotic statesman did not escape reproach and calum- 
ny in high places. " Governor Morris, under the influence of 
angry feelings, accused Franklin to the ministry, of using his 
office of Post Master General, to obstruct the King's service; 
and to the Proprietories, of the design of wresting from them 
the government."! Franklin devoted his time and labor to 
the discoveries of science and to promote the prosperity and 
welfare of his country, and lived to establish a reputation for 
genius, ability, integrity and patriotism that is imperishable. 
Time and experience reconciled him, and the wise and good of. 
all parties, to the great acquisition in the German emigration, 
for the growth, resources and prosperity of Pennsylvania as a 
Province and State. 

A representation unfavorable to the character of the Mennon- 
ites was made to Governor Gordon in 1727 : " That a large 



• Spark's Franklin. Vol. 7, p. 71. 
■}• Gord. 330. 



number of Germans, peculiar in their dress, religion and no- 
tions of political government, had settled on Pequea and were 
determined not to obey the lawful authority of government ; 
that they had resolved to speak their own language, and to 
acknowledge no sovereign but the great Creator of the uni- 
verse." Opposition was made to their admission as citizens, 
and it was not until 1741, that a law was passed for their 
naturalization. They had declared their readiness to pay their 
taxes and that they were subject to those in authority. 

From their conscientious scruples against bearing arms, they 
did not enter the army to fight the battles of the country, but 
when Independence was acknowledged and a new government 
organized and established, they were obedient in all things to 
its requisitions. They have ever been in Pennsylvania a 
peaceable, industrious and moral community, paying their 
taxes regularly, avoiding strife, and living in peace with all 
men, with whom they had intercourse. They never allow the 
poor members of their society to be a public charge, but sup- 
port them in the society. 

The Quakers, who had a majority in the Assembly, and who 
could and did control its Legislature, in the early history of the 
provincial government, were subjected to severe strictures, for 
their neglect and unwillingness to provide for the defence of 
the frontier of the Province, against the many cruel murders 
perpetrated hj the Indians on the inhabitants. 

The numerous petitions of the inhabitants of the frontier in 
1754, after the defeat of the Virginia troops under Washing- 
ton, and again after Braddock's defeat in 1755, imploring from 
the provincial government measures for their defence and pro- 
tection, had but little regard from the majority of the provin- 
cial Assembly, and led to the adoption of no efficient measures 
for the relief of the alarmed inhabitants and their families ; 
and when the Indian war broke out in all its fury, along the 
extended frontier of the Province, and carried massacre into 
hundreds of defenceless families, sparing neither age nor sex, 
the government had not furnished a single soldier, arms or 
ammunition, either for the defence or aid of the frontier. 

The inhabitants of the frontier finding that their repeated 



14 

applications, as well as their unmitigated sufferings from expo- 
sure to savage enemies, were disregarded by the majority of 
the Assembly, though Governor Morris had pressed upon their 
attention, the measures of defence, demanded by every obliga- 
tion of duty, as well as humanity, in 175G, their memorial was 
sent to the King, and Royal government, respecting the de- 
fenceless state of the Province, and praying the interposition 
of the King, for the protection which was withheld from them 
by the Assembly of the provincial government. The petition- 
ers, as well as Assembly complained of, were heard by their 
agents and respective counsel, before a committee of the Privy 
Council of the Royal government. That committee, after con- 
sideration, by their report which was approved by the Board, 
" condemned the conduct of the Assembly in relation to the 
public defence since the year 1742." Their expressed opin- 
ion was, that the Legislature of Pennsylvania, as of every other 
country, was bound by the original compact of government to 
support such government and its subjects. That the measures 
intended for that purpose by the Assembly, were improper, 
inadequate and ineffectual, and that there was no cause to hope 
for other measures, whilst the majority of the Assembly con- 
sisted of persons, whose avowed principles were against milita- 
ry services, who, though not a sixth part of the inhabitants of 
the province, were, contrary to the principles, the policy and 
the practice of the mother country, admitted to hold offices of 
trust and profit, and to sit in the Assemblies without their 
allegiance being secured by the sanction of an oath. This 
report was adopted by the Privy Council and a copy directed 
to be sent to the Province.* 

The repeated complaints of the inhabitants, against the re- 
missness and neglect of a Quaker Legislature to provide for the 
defence of the frontier, were thus sustained by the Royal gov- 
ernment. When the opinion of the ministry on the conduct 
of the Quakers was communicated to the Provincial Assembly, 
some of the members of that society resigned their seats. 
Others declined re-election, and some flattered they could re- 
concile their consciences with the measures of the Assembly. 

* Gordon's Hist. 337, 339. 



15 

The dissensions between the inhabitants of the frontier in- 
terior of the Province, who were mostly of Scot or Irish origin, 
with the Quaker party, were still continued with excited feel- 
ings and prejudices, on both sides. The Scotch Irish freemen 
complained whilst they had increased greatly in numbers, and 
were opening out the wilderness, and extending cultivation, as 
well as defending the frontier of the Province at the expense 
of their blood and lives against the Indians and the French 
allies, who were the public enemy of the country, they were 
without the assistance and protection from the provincial gov- 
ernment, to which they were justly entitled, and amongst the 
grievances complained of, influencing the legislation of the As- 
sembly to their prejudice, was the inequality in 1764, in the 
representation of the counties, the three counties of Philadel- 
phia, Chester and Bucks, with a Quaker population having twenty 
six representatives, whilst the counties of Lancaster, York, 
Cumberland, Berks and Northampton had collectively but ten 
members. 

The dissatisfaction existing between the Scotch and Irish 
inhabitants and the Quakers under the provincial government, 
was the occasion of criminations and recriminations. The 
Quakers charged the Scotch Irish with being haters of the 
Indian, inimical to him and as exciting the Indian wars by 
their encroachments ; whilst the Scotch and Irish inhabitants, 
in their memorial to the Royal government, charged the Qua- 
kers with secretly supporting the Indians, by holding treaties 
and correspondence with them during the war ; " and of having 
bestowed on them arms, ammunition and tomahawks, even when 
they were murdering the frontier inhabitants.".'* The opinions 
and accusations of both parties, were made, it is believed, 
under a cloud of prejudices, excited by partisans, with discol- 
ored representations, and founded on slight evidence, weighed 
in scales held by a partial hand. 

Time and experience proved the poHcy advocated by politi- 
cians of distinction in the Province, of restraining the emigra- 
tion of both the Irish and Germans, into the settlement of its 
wild land, to be so short sighted and contracted, that, if adopted, 



Gordon's Hist. 422. 



16 

would have been ruinous to the fundamental interests of the 
Province and its government. The opinion of such politicians 
deserves but little regard, in their estimations of the principles 
and character of whole and numerous classes of their fellow- 
men, who are commended or censured as they accorded with, 
or opposed their views or purposes, in times of party excite- 
ment, when there is a contest between such leaders for official 
power and influence. Their opinions receive their bias and 
coloring from their own selfish feelings, and fluctuate with the 
rise and fall of parties. 

Had the policy advocated by Logan, Dickinson and Frank- 
lin been adopted, as a permanent one, in the provincial gov- 
ernment, of restraining emigration, by which the population 
demanded for its security and prosp erity, and which has elevated 
it to the highest rank in the American colonies, was to be ex- 
cluded the privilege of an asylum on its territory ; these exclu- 
ded emigrants would have sought permanent homes in other 
colonies, and the growth and improvement of Pennsylvania 
have been greatly retarded. 

Without th© aid, strength and resources afforded to Penn- 
sylvania by its emigration of Irish, Scotch and Germans from 
1725 to 1750, who would have been the pioneers of its immense 
wilderness, opened out its unbroken forests, cultivated its lands, 
and, in the infancy of the Province, reared so many habitations 
for Christian families, or erected in the " back woods " so many 
edifices, dedicated to the worship of the God of their fathers ? 
Without such emigration, before the Indian wars, the frontiers 
of the Province would have extended little beyond the Schuyl- 
kill, and the citizens of Philadelphia, with their wives and 
children, would have been exposed to the torch, hatchet and 
scalping knife of the savage, and their midnight murderous 
assault an-d slaughter, and the Kittochtinny valley in its 
length and breadth, have remained a wilderness. Without 
such emigrants and their descendants, how few would have 
been found in Pennsylvania the advocates of American Inde- 
pendence and resistance to Royal usurpation and tyranny, and 
who would have filled up the ranks, or commanded the armies 
of Pennsylvania in the war of the Revolution, in which the 



17 

liberties of the American people were defended and their inde- 
pendence established. 

A more impartial age has expunged from historical record 
the prejudices and aspersions, which, in the early history of 
this Province, were cast on the German population, or the So- 
ciety of Friends, and they have been allowed to pass almost 
into oblivion, and if recalled, it is only to make known the oc- 
casion of their existence and the temper, feelings and rivalry 
which brought them to life. Both of these great classes of 
the early settlers of the Province, are respected and commend- 
ed for their virtues and usefulness. 

Why is it, that a like liberality and justice, are not extend- 
ed to the Scotch and Irish settlers of Pennsylvania and their 
descendants ? Why is time not allowed to cast a shade over 
accusations against them, which had a like origin in party 
rivalry, and no better foundation, than bad temper and per- 
verted judgment ? 

Were their evil deeds so many, and great that the mantle 
of charity can neither conceal nor cover them ? If so, where 
is the evidence of them ? 

They were men, who laid broad and deep the foundations of 
a great Province, and who, with a master's hand, erected a 
structure of Government that was stable, capacious and eleva- 
ted; whose prosperity and greatness commands admiration, 
and which, by public accord, constitutes the great Key Stone of 
the political Arch of the American Union. 

The men, who were instrumental in this structure of gov- 
ernment, with its free institutions, of religious and civil liberty, 
were more than ordinary men, to hold the plough and handle 
the axe, or ply the shuttle. They had other qualities, we 
would infer from their works, than enterprize, energy, bravery 
and patriotism, and they were not surpassed, for lofty virtue 
and consistent piety. 

When we survey the Kittochtinny valley, between the Sus- 
quehanna and Potomac, with its cultivated and improved farms, 
flourishing towns and villages, its church edifices, in which 
Christian worship, and ordinances, are regularly observed 
— seminaries of learning of every grade, its high intellectual, 
2 



18 

social and moral condition, and remember that little more than 
one century since, the same valley was a ■wilderness — its pop- 
ulation the Indian hunter, and its habitations the hut of the 
savage or the dwelling of the beaver, are we not led to inquire, 
who, under God, were the authors of this great work? A large 
portion of the population of this valley, at the present time, 
are the descendants of its first settlers. Do they not feel, that 
to their ancestors and their memory, they owe a debt of end- 
less gratitude, for their works and services ? Are they not 
interested in knowing and proclaiming the principles, that guided 
the first settlers in making this valley the abode of civilization 
and the homes of an intelligent, enterprizing, religious and 
moral community ? Who is it, that now shares the common 
blessings, that result to the now comfortable and independent 
occupants of this delightful free valley, from the privations, 
toils, sacrifices, persevering industry, and virtue of the men, who 
dwelt in it when a wilderness, and transformed it to cultiva- 
ted fields, meadows and gardens, with commodious and elegant 
dwellings, that does not feel an interest in knowing the charac- 
ter of those who accomplished so much, for those of this gener- 
ation and their posterity ? Other communities of the same 
Scot and Irish origin, have, at an early period, peopled other 
parts of Pennsylvania, whose progress, improvementj princi- 
ples and virtues, were attended with the same happy success and 
prosperity, as characterized this portion of the Kittochtinny 
valley. The Scotch and Irish element was here more univer- 
sal, and extensive, and embracing a larger community of the 
same religious creed, and forms of worship, and of the same 
homogeneous tastes and principles. 

The character of the people who first settle any country, or 
establish their government, generally determines that of their 
descendants. Such is our estimation of the character, princi- 
ples and habits of the first Irish and Scotch settlers of this 
Province, that all their descendants may, we think, be satisfied 
to have their character measured by the same standard. What 
Pennsylvania is, as a great and prosperoua State of free Insti- 
tutions, she owes to the mass of her original settlers. 

Justice has not been done to the Scotch and Irish race, in 



19 

the Histories of the xVmerican Colonies and States. In some 
instances they are slighted, and in others traduced. For per- 
mitting this without rebuke and vindication, their descendants 
are not free from censure. The character of their ancestors is 
part of their inheritance, which they are bound by every obli- 
gation of duty, to reverence and defend. 

To the Puritan settlers of New England there has been a 
different measure of justice, respect and honor. Their princi- 
ples, virtues, institutions and public usefulness, have not only 
been recorded on the pages of History, but in numerous eulo- 
gies and addresses, on the return of the anniversary of the 
Landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock. Whilst the sons 
of New England, unite yearly, in bearing their testimony and 
tribute to the purity and transcendent merits of their ancestors, 
the descendants of other races, throughout the Republic, con- 
cur in honoring their memory, and in commemorating their 
principles and virtues. There were errors and public wrongs 
that were reproachful, imputable to some of the first settlers 
of New England ; chargeable to individual communities and 
arising out of the state of the country, prejudices, excitement 
and delusions ; but B[istoric truth does not require, that they 
should be permanently recorded to their reproach, without an 
exhibit of the extenuating circumstances, under which they 
originated, and, much less, that the misdeeds of individuals, 
or of a limited community, should be proclaimed as a stig- 
ma on the whole Puritan race, of the New Ensrland colonies. 
Blemishes that might be found, in the early history of these 
colonies, have been allowed to pass into oblivion; and lost in 
the effulgence of the mass of excellence, which adorned the 
character of many, of the early settlers of New England. 

To the credit of New England men, they have led off in 
paying an early tribute, to the memory of their ancestors, by 
recording and perpetuating their principles, patriotism and 
public usefulness. Such was the position of the colonies of 
Massachusetts, and Connecticut, during the Revolutionary 
contest, and the War of Independence, that their history and 
that of their inhabitants, in earlier times, are matters of na- 
tional interest, and deserving of national gratitude, and rever- 



20 

ence. "Whilst we accord to the eavly settlers of New England, 
great merits, and eminent usefulness, it is believed that the 
Scotch and Irish early settlers of Pennsylvania, Virginia and 
North Carolina, in energy, enterprise, intelligence, patriotism, 
religious and moral character, the maintenance of civil and re- 
ligious liberty and in inflexible resistance of all usurpation in 
Church or State, were not surpassed by any class of settlers 
in the American colonies. Has this high character been re- 
garded, and acknowledged as it deserved, by the compilers of 
History in Pennsylvania? It has not. Some compilers of local 
history in Pennsylvania, have accorded to the Scotch and Irish 
■early settlers, religious and moral character of a high standard, 
as well as great public service and usefulness ; whilst the au- 
thors of some historical collections and memoirs have indulged 
in wholesale accusations to their reproach. 

The aspersions cast upon the ancestors of the mass of the 
best citizens of this State, require investigation, and that the 
accusers furnish the evidence to which they refer, in order to 
sustain their calumnies. Erom the acquaintance of the writer 
with the character of the Irish and Scotch settlers, who were 
the early actors in the settlement of the Province of Pennsyl- 
vania, he affirms that the accusations and reproaches thus im- 
puted to the Scotch Irish race in Pennsylvania, are unfounded 
and unjust. 

If such accusations, to the reproach of our ancestors, who 
have been in their graves for a half century or more, be allow- 
ed to pass without contradiction or refutation, time and repe- 
tition may give them currency and credit; and the fair fame 
of the men who had high claims on the country and posterity, 
for a life of labor, industry, toil, sacrifices and peril, in its im- 
5)rovement, defence and prosperity, may be unjustly prejudiced 
in the estimation of readers, who may take their opinions from 
an author, who has adopted some stale and selfish prejudice, 
which, in its origin, had neither foundation, credit, nor influence. 
Mr. Siierman Day, in his Historical Collections of Pennsyl- 
vania, (in 1843, page 23,) in speaking of the Scotch Irish, 
says, they were " a pertinacious and pugnacious race," "push- 
ing their settlements upon unpurchased lands about the 



21 

Juniata, pro(lucin|]^ fresli exasperation among the Indians. 
Massacres ensued, the settlers were driven below the moun- 
tains and the whole Province was alive with the alarms and 
excitements of war," 

The only approach to a specification, is by Mr. Day, wherein 
he charges upon the Scotch Irish, the encroachments upon the 
unpiurchased lands of the Indians about the Juniata, and the 
massacres and war, which ensued from these encroachments. 
For a charge so grave and reproachful, as being the authors 
of the savage war, that desolated the border settlements of the 
Province, the reader is not referred, by Mr. Day, to either 
dates, events, or any historical record, or document to verify 
the accusation. We are unwilling to believe, that Mr. Day had 
any disposition to misrepresent the Scotch Irish of Pennsyl- 
vania ; but as his historical work was a hasty compilation of 
much general and local history, opinions and statements may 
have been adopted, without full investigation, and the preju- 
dices and misrepresentations of the leaders or classes, opposed 
to the Scotch Irish race in the Province of Pennsylvania, re- 
ceived as veritable history, in which he was misled, and his 
publication made the instrument of wrong and injustice, to a 
numerous and most respectable class of citizens. 

The wars between the Indians of Pennsylvania and its white 
inhabitants, did not occur before 1755, the year of Braddock's 
expedition and defeat. Then, and for some years preceding, 
the Scotch and Irish emigrants constituted the great mass of 
the eifective population of the Province. They were settled 
in great numbers in various parts of the county of Lancaster, 
on the south eastern and western borders of York county, in 
the county of Northampton, and formed nearly the entire pop- 
ulation of the Kittochtinny valley, in the county of Cumber- 
land, between the Susquehanna, and the Potomac rivers. As 
the cession by the Indians, in 1736, of their claim to lands 
west of the Susquehanna and to the Kittochtinny mountains, 
as a western boundary, together with the adjustment, in 1737, 
of the temporary line between the Provinces of Pennsylvania 
and Maryland, left this great valley, between these rivers, open 
to settlement; the influx into it of substantial settlers of Irish 



22 

iind Scotch origin, was great, after 1737, and continued, ■with 
little abatement, for many years. Yet, with all this influx of 
settlers and appropriation of land, it is believed, that in 1750, 
more than one half of the arable land, in this valley, desirable 
for both fertility and other advantages, was still open to entry 
and settlement. At that time, there were in the Kittochtinny 
valley, about one thousand families, and in the counties of 
Cumberland and Eranklin, which embrace this part of the 
same valley, it appears by the United States Census of 1850, 
that there were then in occupation 4,089 farms. From the 
condition of this valley, as an agricultural district, it is mani- 
fest, that, in 1750 and before, there was vacant land within its 
boundaries, that was suitable and desirable for a settler, great- 
ly beyond what was required, to satisfy the wants or reasona- 
ble demands of emigration. It does not appear from Provin- 
cial records, that the Indians, at any time, complained of 
the settlements in the Kittochtinny valley, west of the Sus- 
quehanna. These settlements were made under licenses from 
the Proprietory government, before the cession, with the ap- 
probation of the Indians, and after the cession, by official grants 
in the regular form from the Land Office, to which Indian con- 
sent was not wanting. 

The complaints by the Indians of encroachments, by the 
white inhabitants, on their unpurchased lands, were in 1742, 
and after; and were confined to illegal settlements on lands in 
Tulpehocken, on the Juniata, Aughwick, Path Valley and on 
Licking Creek, near the Potomac river, which embraced the 
l>ig and Little Coves. These settlements, with the exception 
of Tulpehocken, were in a mountainous country, extending 
from the Susquehanna to the Potomac, a distance of eighty 
miles, being west of the Kittochtinny mountains, and most of 
them west of the Tuscarora. Mr. Day, in the extract from 
his History recited, referred only to the Juniata, as the locality 
of the Scotch Irish encroachments, which were so offensive to 
the Indians. There is the highest authority, being that of R. 
Peters, Esq., Secretary of the Provincial Government, in his 
Report to the Governor, that the first settlers, who entered 
on the unpurchased lands at the Juniata, were Germans,* and 
* Vol. 5. Col. Rec. 445. 



23 

were followed by some Irish emigrants, and at the visit of Mr. 
Peters, he found but six. The settlers who entered on the 
lands at Tulpehocken, before the purchase, were German Pa- 
latines, who came from the Province of New York.f 

The settlements in Path valley, Sherman's valley, and 
Aughwick, were made up of a few families of Irish and Ger- 
man origin ; whilst those on the Licking creek hills, near the 
Potomac, were by settlers, most of whom came from Maryland 
and claimed under Maryland rights, and consisted of emigrants 
from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Germany.;): The provin- 
cial boundary line, having been extended by survey only to the 
summit of the Kittochtinny mountain, it was still uncertain 
how much of the Licking creek hills or coves were within the 
boundary and jurisdiction of Pennsylvania, which was not 
€stablished until by the Mason and Dixon Line in 1767. It 
was on this district of uncertain jurisdiction that the Indians, 
with their French allies, made their first bloody and murder- 
ous slaughter of the defenceless settlers and their families, in 
October, 1755. 

Immediately after the organization of the county of Cum- 
berland, in 1750, the Provincial government took measures 
for the removal of the settlers west of the Kittochtinny and 
Tuscarora mountains. Richard Peters, Esq., Secretary, with 
the aid of the magistrates and sheriff of Cumberland county, 
repaired to the several places of settlement, being accompa- 
nied with delegates from some of the Indian tribes, and an in- 
terpreter. The measures of these officers were eifective. The 
settlers were required, to abandon their dwellings, which were 
destroyed and burned, and compelled to enter into recogni- 
zances for their appearance at the next Court in Cumber- 
land county, to answer for their breach of the Law. The 
settlers disclaimed right, acknowledged their offence and 
acquiesced in the requisitions of the magistrates, and the de- 
struction of their houses, with the exception of one man, who 
resisted with threats, and was disarmed and imprisoned. The 
number of settlers found at these several places, amounted 

f Vol. 3, Col. Rec. 323. In all visited by R. Peters and Magistrates, 62. 
X VoL 5 CoL Rec. 445. 



24 

to sixty-two. To whatever class of emigrants they belonged, 
they could not be considered as either " pertinacious," or 
" pugnacious." Their possessions were in the wilderness, re- 
mote from the settlements, and if lawless and disposed to 
resist the oflScers of the law, and oppose their purposes, it 
might easily have been effected. They were submissive, and 
under the most trying circumstances of a summary expulsion, 
with their families, from their dwellings, which were burned 
in their presence, they were left in an unbroken mountain 
forest, without a habitation or shelter of any kind, for their 
families. The secretary and magistrates executed this public 
duty, with fidelity to the Indians and Provincial government, 
and with as much lenity to __the settlers, as the execution of 
the law would allow. 

The magistrates of Cumberland county who assisted in the 
performance of this painful duty, were of Scotch or Irish orj^- 
igin or descent; and were under no legal obligations to leave 
their homes in the Kittochtinny valley and seek offenders 
against the law, by traversing the wilderness for more than fifty 
miles, and crossing rugged and elevated mountain ranges, by the 
Indian or Trader's path, and then impose, and execute summa- 
ry, rigid punishment on men and their families, for a trans- 
gression of the laws, arising out of the indulgence of the pro- 
prietory government, and their ignorance of the law and its 
penalties. 

Benjamin Chambers and George Croghan, two of their Jus- 
tices, and who were of Irish nativity, without the aid of Mr. 
Peters, visited the settlers, eleven in number, on Sherman's 
creek, and adopted and executed the same measures for their 
removal, and the destruction of their houses. Whatever 
sympathy they may have felt for them, some of whom, no doubt, 
were their countrymen, yet their sense of public duty, made 
them enforce the law, whilst they had to witness the great 
distress of poor sufferers in its execution. 

Such is the history from public documents of the encroachments 
by the white settlers on the unpurchased lands in Pennsylva- 
nia, west of the Kittochtinny mountain, and the measures for 
their removal. When examined by an impartial and intelli- 



i:o 



gent enquirer, can thev discover anything to warrant the im- 
putation, to the whole Scotch Irish race, in the then Province 
of Pennsylvania, the wrongs committed by a few misguided 
settlers, who, with most peril to themselves and their families, 
from both the Indians and government, ventured to settle in 
the wilderness on unpurchased lands. The great mass of the 
Scotch and Irish settlers, who were cultivating and improving 
their farms, in the remote parts of the Province, knew no more 
probably of the existence, or acts of these settlers, than they 
did of their countrymen who might be taking up an abode in 
other colonies or continents. 

Even the inhabitants of the Kittochtinny valley, which was 
the settlement of civilization nearest them, were in no respect 
responsible for their acts or character. They were separated 
from them by ranges of lofty mountains, and in place of en- 
couraging their Scotch, or Irish friends, or acquaintances, to 
make settlements, where they would be exposed to Indian hos- 
tility, as well as contravene the law, would have directed them 
to their own attractive valley, where there was abundance of 
fertile vacant land, and where it was desirable as well as poli- 
tic, to increase the numbers and strength of the settlement, 
by every accession of peaceful and industrious freemen. We 
affirm it to be illiberal, and unjust, to reproach the Scotch Irish 
settlers of Pennsylvania, as a race, with being regardless of 
the forms of the Land office and laws, pushing their settlements 
upon unpurchased lands, to the exasperation of the Indians, 
because some few individuals of that race, with emigrants from 
other countries, may, under an infatuation that is unaccounta- 
ble, and with an adventurous spirit that was reckless, have 
ventured upon some of those lands remote from the settlements. 

The insinuation, that these encroachments were the exciting 
cause of the war, waged by the Indians on the white inhabitants 
of the frontier settlements, is not supported by public documents. 
The Indians in 1742, and for some years after, did complain 
of these encroachments. The measures of the government in 
1750, in removing the settlers, and the destruction of their 
dwellings by public authority, in the presence of some of the 
Indian tribes, were significant evidence of the energy and sin 



26 

cerity of the government, to restrain such encroachments, and 
punish the trespassers ; and though these efficient measures 
did not entirely prevent further encroachments by a few roving 
adventurers, it had a tendency to discourage and restrain it, 
as well as to reconcile the Indians, who were but little incom- 
moded or interfered with, by the few settlers who placed them- 
selves, on the unpurchased lands, when it was their inter- 
est and safety to avoid strife with the Indians. 

Whatever dissatisfaction they might still have, and exhibit, 
was quieted, and removed by the Treaty, and cession at Albany, 
in 1754. The lands, on which encroachments, had been made, 
west of the Kittochtinn}'-, were an acknowledged part of that 
cession, which the Indians understood, and intended to be 
embraced by it, and for which alone they said they had re- 
ceived remuneration. 

The most early, frequent and continued subject of complaint 
by the Indians, in their conferences with the Proprietory, his 
agents or the oiBcers of the Provincial government, was the 
" long tolerated usage of Traders, licensed by the government, 
carrying to their towns and trading posts, rum and other in- 
toxicating liquors, for traffic, by sale or barter — many. of the 
Indians, under the influence of this drink, were tempted to 
part with all they had for it, to their degradation and ruin," 
were excited to broils, bloodshed and murder, and when re- 
stored to sobriety, they found themselves deprived of their 
skins and furs, and were left without anything of value, to clothe 
themselves or their families, or to procure the ammunition ne- 
cessary to enable them to resume the chase. Their destitution 
made them desperate, and ready to embark in any project, 
though of peril, when there was any hope of plunder or reward. 

The Governor of Pennsylvania, in his message of 1744, says: 
" I cannot but be apprehensive that the Indian trade, as it is 
now carried on, will involve us in some fatal general war with 
the Indians. Our traders, in defiance of the law, carry spirit- 
uous liquors amongst them and take the advantage of their in- 
ordinate appetite for it, to cheat them of their skins and their 
wampum, which is their money, and often to debauch their 
wives into the bargain. Is it to be wondered at then, if, when 



2T 



they recover from their drunken fit, they should take some 



severe revenge "^"^ 



.Though the provincial laws forbade the traffic in intoxi- 
cating liquors with the Indians, under severe penalties: and 
proclamations were issued almost annually, by the Governor 
against it, calling on the officers of the government to enforce 
the laws, yet so great were its profits to the trader, and so tempt- 
ing to the poor infatuated sons of the forest, that this vile 
trade remained unabated, and was pursued by the white traders 
under license from the Governor to trade, regardless of the 
law and its penalties,, and of the evils inflicted on the Indians. 

The injuries done to the Indians, by a few white settlers, 
putting up their cabins and clearing and cultivating a field, or 
a corner of the wild lands of the Province, on which the In- 
dians claimed the right to hunt, were but light and trivial, 
compared to those inflicted on their nations, by the traffic in 
intoxicating liquors, tolerated by the government and practised 
by unprincipled white men. 

The great dissatisfaction of the Indians in Pennsylvania, was 
with the Government of the Province, and the Proprietory 
agents, arising out of the cessions of land obtained from them 
within the Province. The boundaries of some of these cessions 
were obscure and uncertain, and yet so comprehensive, as to 
embrace half the Province. It is not to be supposed, that 
there was any design in this, on the part of the Proprietory or 
his agents, that advantage might accrue to the Proprietory 
from the obscurity. 

As there was a great inequality in the capacity of the con- 
tracting parties, in both intelligence and power, it behooved 
the Proprietory and his officers, to use abundant caution in 
making the terms of the cession clearly intelligible, to the ig- 
norant and feeble savage. The lands should have been bound- 
ed by a description, referring to natural boundaries, that could 
not be mistaken, or be open to future cavil. 

The cession of 1737, by the Indians, conveying lands on the 
Delaware, was " to extend back into the woods, as far as a 

Vols, of Penn. Arch. Vol. 3, p. 555. 



28 

man can go in one day and a Jia/f." What a hook was here 
left to hang a controversy on. The Indians soon after, ex- 
pressed their dissatisfaction with a boundary so uncertain, and 
when the walk was made, it only tended to increase the dissat- 
isfaction. The white walkers selected, were so expert and 
indefatigable, that the Indians who were to accompany them, 
complained that they could not keep up with the white men 
who ran.* The wound made by the agents of the Proprietory 
in Indian confidence by this treaty, and the claim and execu- 
tion of it, remained long an open one, and could scarcely be 
said to be healed, when the more comprehensive and important 
treaty and cession were made at Albany in 1754, between the 
Proprietory of Pennsylvania and officers, and the six nations, 
which swept from under the feet of the Indians, nearly all the 
lands claimed by them within the Province, in consideration of 
the small sum of <£400 pounds. The Indians could not have 
understood this wholesale disposition of this claim to their 
hunting grounds. When they came to consider where they 
stood, and how little was left to them of their wide domain, 
their dissatisfaction was intense and general, but more partic- 
ularly with the Delawares, a small, but formidable tribe. They 
alleged, that they only intended to cede the lands unsold on 
which the settlers had encroached, which did not form a tithe 
of what was embraced in the Albany cession. 

To the Indians, the encroachments of the few white settlers 
on the hills, and in some of the small valleys west of the Kit- 
tochtinny mountains, were but a small grievance. The white 
settlements on the east side of those mountains, would make 
the hunting grounds on the immediate border of little value, 
as the game would seek more retired woods, and the Indians 
had for many years before these settlements withdrawn from 
them. The acts of the settlers were individual wrongs, not 



* The Proprietory agents had advertised in the public papers for the most 
expert walkers, to make the walk, ofi'ering a reheard of five hundred acres of 
land in the purchase, and £5 in money, to the person who should attend and 
walk the farthest in the given time. The walkers desired, entered on this 
novel race on time, through the woods, and though supplied with refresh- 
ments at points, without rest or loss of time, one of the white men sank down 
exhausted, under the effort, and one only was able to continue until the 
exhaustion of the time. — Day. Col. 508. 



29 

justified under any pretended right, and which the Proprieto- 
ry government was bound to redress, and which its agents de- 
clared should be redressed, by government authority. But the 
wrongs done the Indians, by the officers and agents of the 
Proprietory and Provincial government, were on a much more 
extensive scale. They were by public authority, in whose acts 
the Indians had reposed confidence, and they were not to be 
satisfied, that the marks of a few Indian chiefs to a single in- 
strument of waiting, which they could not read, was to be an 
absolute, legitimate and conclusive transfer of their nation's 
claim to the lands of half the Province, and for any wrong or 
fraud perpetrated on them by the public agents, they were 
without appeal to or redress by higher authority. 

The dissatisfactions of the Indians, under the compact of 
1754, were continued without redress from the Proprietor}^, or 
the Provincial government; and they were allowed to grieve 
over their lost hunting grounds and the homes of their families, 
taken from them by the public agents and officers of a govern- 
ment, they had regarded as their friend and protector. 

The French, who were aspiring to dominion in North Amer- 
ica, at the expense of the English possessions, were extending 
rapidly their posts and fortresses, from the northern lakes into 
the valley of the Ohio. Every art and device was used by 
them, to attach the Indians to their, influence, and withdraw 
them from English alliance. They, by the line of their forti- 
fications, were more in the neighborhood of the Indian towns 
and hunting grounds, which were to them places of trade and 
barter, for supplies adapted to their condition and wants. The 
Indians had an opportunity of seeing their armaments, and 
military stores, as well as to witness their enterprise, prompti- 
tude and perseverence to further the purposes of their govern- 
ment. They did not admire the pacific temper of the Provin- 
cial government, and the few English forces which they had 
seen before 1755, in the Provinces of the English government, 
did not impress them much in favor of the power of the gov- 
ernment, or of the bravery and intrepidity of its soldiers. 

The French ingratiated themselves by presents, and marked 
attentions, that were captivating ; whilst they endeavored to 



30 

impress on tlicrn the suspicion that the English, whose settlements 
Avcre extending from the Atlantic 'westward, were intended 
to be permanent, and take from them all their hunting grounds, 
whilst they drove them to the extremity of the land. 

The extended dissatisfaction with the English, that followed 
the Albany cession, was opportune for French influence, which 
was at once artfully used, to withdraw the Indian nations from 
English to French alliance. The vast territory obtained and 
claimed by the Proprietories of Pennsylvania, under the Deed of 
1754, w^as to the Indians a confirmation of the suspicions, that the 
French had endeavored to excite, as to the design of the Eng- 
lish to take their lands. The French, at a crisis when they 
were preparing for hostilities, were successful in bringing to 
their alliance, the Indians within the Province of Pennsylvania, 
with the exception of a small number. The French posts and 
garrisons now became places not only for Indian resort, but of 
organization and armament, for the approaching war. Indian 
hostilities were soon witnessed, with a vengeance and unparal- 
lelled success in the defeat of Braddock. In a few months 
after, they waged a cruel and merciless war on the defenceless 
settlers and their families of Pennsylvania; also simultaneously 
on those of Maryland and Virginia. The cause of that hos- 
tility could not be mistaken. For a twelve month it had been 
rankling in the breast of every Indian warrior. Their dissatis- 
faction was notorious, and yet the Proprietory of Pennsylva- 
nia and the Provincial government slumbered amidst the indi- 
cations of an approaching war, without any efficient measures 
to avert it or to provide for the defence of the frontier. 

The constituted authorities of the Province understood well, 
at the time, the cause of the Indian hostilities, with which the 
inhabitants were visited. They did not attribute them to the 
encroachments of the few Irish, Scotch or German settlers on 
the unpurchased lands, many of whom, with their families, had 
fallen victims to the savage warfare to which, from their loca- 
tion, they were exposed. The responsibility for these hostil- 
ities was to be charged to those in power and authority in the 
Province. 

Gov. Morris, in his address to the Assembly, of Nov., 3, 1755, 



31 

expressly tells^hem, " that it seemed clear, from the different 
accounts he had received, that the French had gained to their 
interest the Delaware and Shawnese Indians, under the en- 
snaring pretence o^ restoring them to their country.'' 

At a treaty at Easton, in 1756, the Governor desired to 
know of the Indians the cause of their hostile conduct. Tu- 
dyuscung, chief of the Delawares, and who represented several 
nations, replied, " I have not far to go for an instance ; this 
very ground, that is under me," striking it with his foot, "was 
my land and inheritance, and is taken from me by fraud. When 
I say this ground, I mean all the land between Toheccon 
creek and Wyoming, on the river Susquehanna." 

The Assembly, in their reply to Gov. Denny, in June, 1757, 
say, " It is rendered beyond contradiction plain, that the 
cause of the present Indian incursions in this Province, and 
the dreadful calamities many of the inhabitants have suffer- 
ed, have arisen, in a great measure, from the exorbitant 
and unreasonable purchases made, or supposed to be made of 
the Indians, and the manner of making them — so exorbitant, 
that the natives complain that they have not a country left to 
subsist in."* This fact was known to the Royal government, 
which interposed its influence with the Proprietories of Penn- 
sylvania, and desired that the Indians should be conciliated 
on the subject of the boundary of the Albany cession. This 
was done at Easton, in 1758, by a Deed from the Proprietories 
by their agents, abridging the bounds of the conveyance of 
1754, and which released to the Indians the lands situate 
northward and westward of the Allegheny mountain. 

The Proprietories of Pennsylvania, in their dealings and 
negotiations with both natives and settlers, were just, honora- 
ble and generous. They were incapable of any fraud, or im- 
position, and did not allow it to be practised by their agents. 
Their disposition to accommodate the settlers, made them in- 
dulgent to them for the small amount of purchase money asked 
for their lands, and made them tolerate many irregularities in 
the acquisition, and evidence of appropriation of land from 



* 2 Smith's Laws, 120. 



regard to the wants and necessities of the settlers and exig6n- 
cy of the time. A fair settlement, prosecuted with ordinary 
diligence, without regard to the efficient forms of grant of land 
provided for and required, was yet tolerated and recognized as 
valid as if obtained and prosecuted, in all the form required 
for official grants. 

In their negotiations with the Indians, the Commissioners 
appointed by the Proprietories, were instructed " to conduct 
themselves with candor, justice and humanity." They ever 
manifested their wishes to conciliate them by probity and 
kindness. As the residence of the Proprietories, was most of 
the time in England, the management of the aftairs in the 
Province, was necessarily committed to their agents, on whose 
representations they were, in a great measure, dependent for 
information respecting the measures in the Province. They 
would no doubt sometimes be misled by the representations of 
their agents, and redress for alleged wrongs to either the 
Indian nations or the white settlers, would, in consequence of 
the absence of the Proprietories from the Province, and the 
few and tardy channels of communication there were between 
the Province and England, be delayed, to the injury and dis- 
satisfaction of all parties. There would have been no war be- 
tween the Indians of Pennsylvania and its inhabitants, had it 
not been for the war waged between the English and French 
governments, a part of which was transferred to the Ameri- 
can continent, where both governments were ambitious of ex- 
tending their dominion. Into this conflict the Indians were 
brought by the French, who had been most successful in 1755 
in seducing them into their alliance. The prominent and in- 
fluential cause placed before the Pennsylvania Indians, to ex- 
cite them against the English, and the Provincial government 
of Pennsylvania, w^ere the wrongs inflicted on them under the 
Albany cession. The exciting cause of Indian hostilities im- 
mediately before, and after Braddock's defeat, is to be traced 
not to the encroachments of the few white settlers, but to the 
more extensive wrongs ])j the government and its agents. 

The settlers and their families on the frontier, being near- 
est and m^st defenceless, were the first victims to tjie attack, 



83 

in which the Indians were encouraged by Braddock's defeat, 
Dunbar's flight with the remains of the army, and the omission 
of the Royal and Provincial governments to provide measures 
for the defence of the Province, against the terrible incursions 
of the savages, which were to be apprehended; and were soon 
realized in the murder, and slaughter of the inhabitants, of nu- 
merous settlements, without regard to age, sex or condition. 



CHAPTER II. 

Detraction of Scotch Irish hy Mr. Sargent — Vindication re- 
quired — Where did they reside? — Who and what were 
they ? — Religious and moral character — Religious organi- 
zation — Institutions of learning — William Tennent, Senior 
— Blairs — Finley — Davies — Allisons — Smiths, and others 
— Settlement in York Barrens — The men from that settle- 
ment — in Donegal — Paxton — and in western part of York 
county, now Adams. 

Iisr the introductory memoir to the Journal of Braddock's ex- 
pedition, by Mr. Wicthrop Sargent, published within the last 
year in Philadelphia, by Messrs. Lippincott, Grambo, & Co., 
the author has taken occasion to refer to the Scotch Irish race 
in Pennsylvania, in terms so opprobrious, as to call for notice. 
He says : " They were a hardy, brave, hot-headed race ; ex- 
citable in temper, unrestrainable in passion, invincible in pre- 
judice. Their hand opened as impetuously to a friend, as it 
clinched against an enemy. They loathed the Pope as sin- 
cerely as they venerated Calvin or Knox, and they did not 
particularly respect the Quakers. If often rude and lawless, 
it was partly the fault of their position. They hated the In- 
dian, while they despised him ; and it does not seem, in their 
dealings with this race, as though there were any sentiments 
of honor or magnanimity in their bosoms, that could hold way 
against the furious tide of passionate, blind resentment. Im- 
patient of restraint, rebellious against any thing that, in their 
eyes, bore the semblance of injustice, we find these men 
readiest among the ready, on the battle fields of the revolution. 

3 



34 

If tlaey had faults, a lack of patriotism or of courage was 
not among the numher."* 

This concentrated denunciation, of a numerous race, has a 
meagre qualification in the preceding page, when it is stated, 
that, in each of the classes referred to by the author, "were to 
be found men of education, intelligence and virtue." 

For this measure of reproach and opprobrium cast upon the 
ancestors of a large portion of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania 
and other States, there is no reference to authority or facts. 
The author does not accord to them integrity, enterprise, reli- 
gious or moral character. The character thus imputed to men, 
who did much for the improvement and prosperity of the Pro- 
vince and State of Pennsylvania, and for the defence of civil 
and religious liberty, as well as for the free institutions and 
independence of the Republic, is at variance with all that is 
generally received, as matter of historical truth. It is true, 
that error and mistatement on a subject of such interest, should 
be corrected, if they exist. Accusations and reproaches, if 
unfounded, are to be refuted, and the character of men who 
deserved well of society and their country, should be vindi- 
cated. 

Character is said to be transmissible, and that the charac- 
ter of descendants, may be determined by what was that of 
their ancestors. If this be so, it is of interest to inquire into 
what, in truth, was the character of the Scotch, and Irish, early 
settlers of the Province of Pennsylvania, that their descen- 
dants may know themselves, as well as the character of their 
ancestors. The descendants of the early settlers in Pennsyl- 
vania, of Scotch, or Irish origin, have nothing to apprehend 
from the investigation, to the prejudice of their ancestors or 
themselves. To this wholesale denunciation of the Scotch 
Irish race in Pennsylvania, by Mr. Sargent, we propose to re- 
ply, by inquiring, where these settlers were in Pennsylvania, 
and who they were, and what they were ? 

The accusations made against the men, 'who were actors in 
this Province at " the time that tried men's souls," are to be 



* His. of Brad. Exp. 77. 



35 

met by the history of the settlements, made, in the infancy of 
the Province, by the emigrants from Ireland and Scotland, 
"with their energy, progress, intelligence, religious and moral 
character, social condition, religious, educational and patriotic 
tendencies. 

Their ancestors were not without faults; they were men with 
their infirmities, and made mistakes. Individuals of the race 
have done wrongs against society, and their brethren, but not to 
a greater degree, than were perpetrated elsewhere, in civilized 
communities of the same number in like circumstances. The 
offences of a few infatuated, vicious or turbulent men, under a 
feeble government, are not to be imputed as a lasting stigma 
and reproach to all, of the same foreign origin, dwelling under 
the same government. 

As well might the respectable families of emigrants, who are 
in these days coming to our land, as their future abode, be 
identified with the fugitives from justice, and liberated felons, 
who may have got a passage in the same steamer. Into the Pro- 
vince of Pennsylvania, for many years, were shipped from Ire- 
land and Germany, great numbers of ignorant and poor subjects, 
who were unable to pay their passage, and were sold into service 
for a term of years to the colonists, for the amount of their 
passage money, and were called "Redemptioners." They were 
held in service by the farmers and others, to assist in the labor 
required in the towns and country, some of whoml)ecame use- 
ful and respectable citizens, but many were low and vulgar, and 
of disorderly and vicious habits. The English government, 
by its authority, for a time, transported to the colonies many 
of its convicts, against the wishes, interests and remonstrances 
of the colonists, as well as against the public peace and wel- 
fare.* In the most orderly communities, into whioh a portion 



* By British policy, the American colonies were made an asylum for the 
worst of felons, transported to them. Those persons, who, by their enor- 
mous crimes, were unfit for society in England, were to be let loose on socie- 
ty in America, and be deemed fit servants for the colonists, and that their labor 
and industry, might be the means of improving the said colonies, more usefully 
to his majesty. Both Virginia and Maryland passed laws in restraint of this 
transportation, which were disallowed by the King and Council, as derogato- 
ry to the Crown and Parliament. The colonies had still to endure the evils of 
this vicious system from the mother country, for a considerable time, without 



36 

of Buch material should be infused, it might be expected; that 
there would be occasional exhibitions of vice, violence, and 
crime, to the annoyance of the public, under a new govern- 
ment, with few officers, in an extended and wild territory. 

The first emigrants, from Ireland, to the Province of Penn- 
sylvania, came, about the beginning of the last century, and 
settled in and near Philadelphia, in the counties of Bucks, 
Chester, and several parts of Lancaster. They were Protest- 
ant Christians, of the Presbyterian denomination, and as 
characterised them and their Scotch associates, wherever they 
formed a settlement, as soon as they had reared, or obtained 
houses for their families, they organized congregations for 
Christian Avorship. For this purpose, they habitually assem- 
bled themsekes together, holding to the government, creed 
and doctrines, of their fathers, as contained in the Westmin- 
ster Confession of Faith, with its Catechisms, as the rule of 
Faith and ecclesiastical organization, which they intended to 
maintain for themselves and their children; and which they 
reverenced, as the offspring of the religious liberty, that they 
sought to found, in a Province settled under a Charter, that 
proclaimed religious freedom and equal rights. 

They had fled from civil oppression and religious tyranny, 
in the land of their fathers, and they hastened, in their new 
homes, to manifest their sincerity and regard for their privi- 
leges, under a government of free institutions, and limited pow- 
ers, by erecting their houses of public worship, called " meet- 
ing houses," dedicated to the only true God. Not being sat- 
isfied long with a licensed ministry, that afforded them occa- 
sional supplies, they sought, and had settled Pastors, of learn- 
ing and piety, installed to the office of their Christian minister,, 
who was to- go in and out before the people, and administer 
the received ordinances of the Church. 

The first Presbyterian ministers in this country, were near- 
ly all men of liberal education. Some had received their ed- 



remedy. It is said, about 1750, not less than from three to four hundred 
felons were anmially brought into the State of Maryland. •{• These convicts had, 
after they landed, the run and choice of the colonies before them. 

•j- British Empire in Am. Vol. 3, page 23. 



37 

Tication in the Universities of Scotland; some in Ireland, and 
a few at one of the New England Colleges. Though there 
was a great demand for ministers, in the rapid settlement of 
some parts of the Province, by emigrants of the Presbyterian 
denomination, yet, from Dr. Alexander's research, there would 
seem to have been but one instance, of introducing into the 
ministry, of that Church, a candidate, without a college or 
university education, and that was under extraordinary cir- 
cumstances. 

The first Presbyterian church organized, with a place of 
public worship, was in Philadelphia, in 1703, and in the next 
year, or year after, a Presbytery was formed, called the Pres- 
bytery of Philadelphia. In 1716, the Presbyterian body had 
so far increased, that a Synod was constituted, consisting of 
four Presbyteries, viz : Philadelphia, New Castle, Snow Hill, 
and Long Island. 

" After the formation of the Synod, the body went on in- 
creasing, receiving additions, not only by emigrants from Scot- 
land and Ireland, but also from natives of England and Wales, 
who came to the middle colonies, and were thrown by circum- 
stances, into the neighborhood of Presbyterian churches, and 
also from natives, or their descendants, of France, Holland, 
and Switzerland, who preferred the Presbyterian form of wor- 
ship or government. To these, may be added, a number from 
New England, who were induced, by local considerations, or 
other circumstances, to connect themselves with the Presby- ' 
terian body."* 

As the Irish and Scotch emigrants, generally, preferred 
agriculture, to other occupations, they located themselves in 
the rural districts, on lands open to appropriation in the Pro- 
vince, or by purchase from some earlier settler. In conse- 
quence of this rural taste, and settlement, Presbyterian influ- 
ence and increase were more manifest, and extended in the 
country, than in the city. 

Settlements of Scotch Irish were made on the banks of the 
Octorora creek, Lancaster county, in 1717. '' They and their 

* Dr. Miller on Presb. Cli., Ency. Rel. Knowl. 



descendants," says Mr. Riipp, in thellistor}' of Lancaster coun- 
ty, by liini compiled and published, " have always been justly 
regarded as amongst the most intelligent people of Lancaster 
county. Their progress will be found to be but little behind 
the boasted efforts of the colony at Plymouth."* They had 
for their pastor the Rev. Andrew Boyd, who preached to them 
in 1724. This testimony to the character of the settlers on 
Octorora, is not from one who can be suspected of partiality, 
from any affinity to the Scotch Irish, but from an impartial 
historian, of German descent, and German religious asso- 
ciations. 

A number of emigrants from Ireland, settled about 1720, 
or before, in Bucks county, north of Philadelphia. They 
shortly after their settlement, organized Presbyterian congre- 
gations. One of them became of notoriety in the Province, 
in having for its pastor, the Rev. William Tennent, Senior, 
who received a call to the Presbyterian congregation on Nesh- 
aminy creek, in 1726, which he accepted. He was an 
emigrant from Ireland, and had been in connection with 
the established Church, but shortly after his arrival in Amer- 
ica, he renounced his connection with it, and joined the Pres- 
bytery of Philadelphia. He was celebrated for his profound 
and accurate acquaintance with the Latin and Greek classics. 
At the time he was engaged with his pastoral charge at Nesh- 
aminy, there existed no college or academy, of a high order, in 
the middle colonies, where young men, seeking the ministry, 
could obtain the necessary learning. About the beginning of 
the last century, a public school was established at Philadel- 
phia, by the Society of Friends. Its first preceptor, George 
Keith, though a man of genius and learning, yet, being eccen- 
tric and restless, he left the school, after a year, and, so far as 
we can discover, it did not flourish, or acquire any celebrity. 
To obtain a qualification, young men, desirous of entering 
the Presbyterian ministry, were obliged to go to Scotland, or 
New England, for their education, and there were few candi- 
dates in the Presbyterian connection, who were able to bear 
the expense of an education, at places so remote. f William 



* Riipp's His. Lan. 439. f Whitfield's Journal. 



39 

Tennent, resolved to supply this destitution, as far as he "was 
capable, hj opening a school for the education of young men, 
in the knowledge of the classics, as well as in divinity. For 
this, no man was better qualified, by attainments, as well as 
his ability and aptness, as an instructor. His school was es- 
tablished, and in operation, in 1726. The building for it, was 
erected by him, a few steps from his dwelling, and was made 
of logs, from the forest near it. It, and its principal, were 
visited by the celebrated Rev. George Whitfield, who traversed 
this country. In speaking of the building, he says, " the 
place wherein the young men study now, is called, in contempt, 
^ The College ;' it is a log house about twenty feet long, and 
near as many broad, and to me, it seemed to resemble the 
school of the old prophets, for their habitations were mean. All 
that we can say, of most of our universities, is, they are glo- 
rious without. Erom this despised place, seven or eight wor- 
thy ministers of Jesus, have lately been sent forth, more are 
almost ready to be sent, and the foundation is now laying for 
the instruction of many others."* 

The Hon. Elias Boudinot, LL. D., who knew Mr. Tennent 
well, says : " That he was well skilled in the Latin language, 
that he could speak and converse in it, with as much facility, 
as in his vernacular tongue, and also, that he was a proficient 
in the other languages." His general character appears to 
have been that of a man of integrity, simplicity, industry and 
piety. Such was the reputation of the man, who assumed to 
establish the first place and means of education in the colony, 
above that of the common school, in which only the rudiments 
of education were taught. Whilst he discharged his pastoral 
labors to his congregation faithfully, " in season and out of 
season," at the same time, his learning and talents were de- 
voted to the education of the young men, who sought their in- 
tellectual improvement, and religious training, under his teach- 
ings. 

At such a time there was no project, so desirable for the 
best interests of the Province, as to raise the standard of edu- 



* Whitfield's Journal. 



40 

cation "within it ; and Mr. Tennent was the very man for the 
work. With the aid of his eminent son, Gilbert, for a time, 
who was also a native of Ireland ; and who received his educa- 
tion under his father, the school was opened, and conducted 
with success, and great usefulness. The health of William 
Tennent, Senior, declined in 1743, and he died in 1746, 
aged 73. 

The character of this school, and its founder, is further at- 
tested bj the attainments, and reputation of its pupils. Plain 
and unpretending, as was the edifice, " a log cabin " in the 
woods, with the minister of the neighborhood for Principal 
and Teacher, and with opponents who ridiculed the experi- 
ment, by giving to the school, in derision, the name of " the 
Log College," yet, it attracted young men of studious habits, 
who applied themselves with diligence. It was also blessed by 
Providence, in having for its pupils7 young men of superior 
talents, who left it with minds cultivated, disciplined and 
stored with knowledge, that qualified them for the study of 
any of the learned professions. The young men of this school, 
prosecuted their studies as preparatory to the ministry, on 
which they entered. " Amongst these pupils, educated in that 
school, were the four sons of the Principal, all of whom were 
members of the Presbyterian Church. Gilbert Tennent was 
ordained as a pastor in 1727. He is supposed to have been 
the first candidate licensed in the Presbyterian Church, who 
was educated within its limits."* Mr. Whitfield, in his journal 
of his visit to the American colonies, says : " I went to the 
meeting house to hear Mr. Gilbert Tennent preach ; and never 
before heard I, such a searching sermon. He went to the bottom 
indeed, and did not daub with untempered mortar. He con- 
vinced me more, that we can preach the Gospel of Christ no 
further than we have experienced the power of it in our hearts. 
Hypocrites must either soon be converted or enraged at his 
* preaching. He is a " son of thunder," and does not regard 
the face of man. He is deeply sensible of the deadness and 
formality of the Christian Church, in these parts, and has 

* Alexander's Log College, 43. 



41 

given no^le testimonies against it." It has been remarked, 
by an eminent divine, "that higher testimony and from high- 
er authority could not be given upon earth, and that it is 
doubtful, ■whether Mr. Whitfield had ever expressed so high an 
opinion of any other preacher of any denomination." 

In 1744. Mr. Gilbert Tennent established a new Presbyte- 
rian Church in Philadelphia, chiefly composed of those, who 
"were denominated the converts and followers of Mr. Whitfield. 
Dr. S. Miller says, "he was a bold, ardent, practical and un- 
usually impressive preacher. He died in 1764, in the 62nd 
year of his age."* 

One of the most distinguished men educated at the Log Col- 
lege, was the Rev. Samuel Blair, a native of Ireland, who was 
among the first pupils of this institution. After finishing his 
classical and theological studies, he put himself under the care 
of the New Castle Presbytery, by which he was licensed to 
preach the Gospel. Soon after he was settled in the Presby- 
terian congregation at Shrewsbury, New Jersey, where he la- 
bored for five or six years. Prom this, in 1739, he received 
an earnest call from a Presbyterian congregation of Scotch 
Irish settlers, in New Londonderry, otherwise called Fagg's 
Manor, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. When he received 
this call, he left it to the Presbytery to decide, whether he 
should go or stay. He was advised to accept, and went, and 
was installed as the pastor of this congregation, in 1740. 
Shortly >nfter, he established at this place a classical school, of 
the character of that before instituted at Neshaminy, by Mr. 
William Tennent, Sr., where he received his education. His 
school had particular reference to the study of Theology, as a 
science. He was esteemed as one of the most able, learned, 
pious, excellent and venerable men of his day ; was a most 
profound divine, and a most solemn and impressive preacher. 
To his pupils, be was himself an excellent model of pulpit elo- 
quence. In his life, he gave them an admirable example of 
Christian meekness, of ministerial diligence, of candor and 
Catholicism, without a dereliction of principle. He was emi- 

* Miller's Life of Rogers. 



4S 

nently serviceable in the part of the country where he lived, 
not only as a minister of the Gospel, but as a teacher of human 
knowleelge. From his academy, the school of the prophets, as 
it was frequently called, there came forth many distinguished 
pupils, who did honor to their instructor, both as scholars and 
Christian ministers."* Under his ministry at New Londonder- 
ry, there occurred a remarkable revival of religion. " As a 
preacher, there was a solemnity in his very appearance, which 
struck his hearers with awe, before he opened his mouth. He 
spoke as in the view of eternity, as in the immediate presence 
of God." The opinion entertained by the eloquent and pious 
Mr. Davies of Mr. Blair, as a preacher, was given to Mr. 
Davies' friends, who, on his return from Europe, were curious 
to know his opinion of the celebrated ministers, whom he had 
heard in England and Scotland. After dealing out liberal com- 
mendations on such as he had most admired, he concluded by say- 
ing, "that he had heard no one, who, in his judgment, was superior 
to his former teacher, the Rev. Samuel Blair."t Very great 
assemblies, would ordinarily meet to hear Mr. Blair on any day 
of the week, and often times a surprising power accompanied 
his preaching, which was visible, among the multitude of heal- 
ers. Mr. Blair, in a communication to a friend, in speaking 
of his congregation, says : " Except in some singular instances 
of behavior, which, alas ! proceed from, and show, the sad 
remains of original corruption, even in the regenerate children 
of God, while in this imperfect state, their walk is habitually 
tender and conscientious, their carriage towards their neigh- 
bors just and kind ; and they appear to have an agreeable, pe- 
culiar love one for another, and for all in whom appears the 
image of God."| 

Among the students at Mr. Blair's academy, was the Rev. 
Samuel Davies, born in the county of New Castle, State of 
Delaware, in 1721. He received the greater part of his 
academic and theological education under the teaching of the 
Rev. Samuel Blair, and was licensed to preach in 1745. He 
was eminent for eloquence, piety and learning, and acquired 



* Miller's Retr. 2, 343. Ency. Rel. Knowl. 

■j- Miller's Life of Dr. Rodgers. % Log College. 183. 



4| 

a reputation so well known for genius, and taste, that it is not 
deemed necessary to dwell on them here. Having settled as 
Pastor of a Presbyterian congregation in Virginia, shortly 
after he was licensed, where he remained for some years, ad- 
mired, respected and useful, in 1759 he was elected President 
of Princeton College, in which situation, he remained but 
eighteen months, being removed by death in 1761, in the thirty- 
seventh year of his age. 

The Rev. John Rodgers, who was born in Boston, of Irish 
parents, at the age of sixteen, entered the academy, under the 
care of the Rev. Samuel Blair, where he pursued his classical 
and theological education, and finished his theological studies, 
under the direction of the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, in Philadel- 
phia. In 1747, he was licensed by the Presbytery of New 
Castle, and gave in his public ministrations, as well as in his 
exemplary private deportment, indications of the future excel- 
lence and usefulness for which he was happily distinguished. 

As associates of Davies and Rogers, at Blair's academy, 
were Mr. Alexander Cumming, one of the ministers of the 
Presbyterian Church in New York, and who held a high place 
among the ministers of the day ; also Messrs. Robert Smith, 
James Einley, Hugh Henry, and a number of others, who be- 
came distinguished in the ministry.* The health of the Rev. 
Samuel Blair, gave way, under the labors of his ministry, and 
school, and death removed him from both, in 1751, at the age 
of thirty-nine. 

The Rev. John Blair, the brother of Samuel, was also an 
alumnus of the Log College ; where he received his education, 
and as a theologian, was not inferior to any man, in the Pres- 
byterian Church, in his day. 

He was ordained in the pastoral charge of three congrega- 
tions, in the Kittochtinny valley, west of the Susquehanna, as 
early as 1742, before Cumberland county was erected, and 
when the district was a part of Lancaster county. His pasto- 
ral charge embraced the " Big Spring " congregation, (now 
Newville,) and some other congregations in the nev/ settlement. 

• Miller's Life of Rodgers. 



44 

But as the incursions of the Indians, after Braddock's defeat, 
dispersed the inhabitants, Mr. Blair retreated to the eastern part 
of the colony. He accepted a call from Fagg's Manor in 
1757, which had been formed under the ministry of his favored 
brother Samuel. Mr. Blair discharged the duties of his min- 
istry, and conducted a flourishing Grammar school at this 
place for about nine years, where he prepared many young 
tnen, for the ministry. He was afterwards chosen Vice Presi- 
dent of Princeton College, and Professor of Divinity, which 
places he filled with great ability, fidelity and reputation. He 
died in 1771, in the fifty-second year of his age. 

One of the most eminent men in the Province of Pennsylva- 
nia, in its early history, was Dr. Samuel Finley, President of 
Princeton College. He was born in Ireland, where he receiv- 
ed part of his classical education, and arrived in the Province 
in 1734. It is believed that he finished his education at the 
Log College, , as there was then no other institution, in the 
Presbyterian Church, where young men were prepared for 
the ministry; and he was under the care of the New Bruns- 
wick Presbytery, most of whose members were educated in 
that school. He was licensed in 1740. After he was ordain- 
ed as an evangelist, for some years, he visited various parts of 
the country, where the inhabitants were most destitute of reli- 
gious instruction; and it was said, much success attended these 
itinerant labors of this pious and talented minister. That Dr. 
Finley was an accomplished scholar and skilful teacher, was 
universally admitted. In 1744 he accepted a call from Not- 
tingham, m Chester county, adjacent to Maryland, having a 
congregation of settlers resident in both Provinces. In this 
place he instituted an academy, with the view chiefly of pre- 
paring young men for the ministry. This school was conduct- 
ed with admirable wisdom and success, and acquired a higher 
reputation than any other in the middle colonies, so that stu- 
dents from a great distance were attracted to it. Some of the 
most distinguished men in our country, laid the foundation of 
their education, eminence, and usefulness in this academy ; 
amono;st whom were Governor Martin, of North Carolina, 
Dr. Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia, his brother, Judge Rush, 



45 

Ebenezer Hazard, Esq., Eev. James Waddel, D. D., the elo- 
quent and blind preacher of great celebrity in Virginia, Dr. 
McWhorter of New Jersey, Col. John Bayard and Governor 
Henry of Maryland. There were no better classical scholars 
formed anywhere in this country, than in this school. The 
method of instruction in the Latin and Greet languages, was 
thorough and complete. The temper of Dr. Finley was re- 
markably benignant and sweet, and his manners aifable and 
polite. The degree of doctor of divinity was bestowed on him 
by the University of Glasgow, which seems to have been the 
first instance of any Presbyterian minister in America, receiv- 
ing that honorary distinction. 

In 1761, he was elected President of Princeton College, and 
entered on the duties of that station, in which he was distin- 
guished for wisdom and efficiency. He died in 1766, in the 
fifty-first year of his age.* " Dr. Finley was a man of sound 
and vigorous mind, of extensive learning, and of unusually 
fervent piety. Seldom has a life been more exemplary, or 
mWe useful."f 

In the early history of Pennsylvania, there was no man of 
more eminence and usefulness and worthy of historical notice, 
than Francis Allison, D. D. He was born in Ireland, and 
after an early classical education, at an academy, completed 
his studies at the University of Glasgow. In 1735 he came to 
America, and was appointed pastor of a Presbyterian congre- 
gation at New London, Chester county, Pennsylvania. About 
1741 his solicitude for the interests of the Redeemer's king- 
dom, and his desire of engaging and preparing young men for 
the ministry, and of promoting public usefulness and learning, 
induced him to open, at New London, a public school. There 
was, at the time, a great want of learning in the middle colo- 
nies, and he generally instructed all that came to him, without 
fee or reward. The Synod of Philadelphia assumed the pa- 
tronage and supervision of this school, and allowed Mr. Alli- 
son a salary of ^620 a year, and his usher <£15, and called on 
their congregations to contribute, for a time, to the support of 



* Dr. Alexander's Log College, 204. f Dr. Miller's Life of Eodgers, 57. 



the school. In 1747, Mr. Allison, by solicitation, took charge 
of the Academy in Philadelphia, and in 1755 was elected 
Vice Provost and Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Col- 
lege, which had just been established. He was then also min- 
ister of the first Presbyterian Church. Besides an unusually 
accurate and profound acquaintance with the Latin and Greek 
classics, he was well informed in moral philosophy, history and 
general literature. To his zeal for the diffusion of knowledge, 
Pennsylvania owes much of that taste for solid learning, and 
classical literature, for which many of her principal charac- 
ters have been distinguished. The private virtues of Dr. Alli- 
son conciliated the esteem of all who knew him; and his public 
usefulness, has erected a lasting monument to his praise. In 
his public services he was plain, practical and argumentative, 
warm, animated, and pathetic. He was frank and generous 
in his natural temper ; warm and zealous in his friendships, 
catholic in his sentiments, and the friend of civil and religious 
liberty, abhorring the intolerant spirit of persecution, bigotry 
and superstition, together with all the arts of dishonesty and 
deceit. His humanity and compassion led him to spare no 
pains or trouble, in relieving and assisting the poor, and dis- 
tressed, by his advice and influence, or by his own private lib- 
erality. His friend and successor. Rev. Dr. Ewing, said of 
him, that he was " one of the brightest luminaries that ever 
shone on this western world ;" and the venerable Dr. Alexan- 
der has given his opinion " that Dr. xillison was one of the 
most accomplished scholars who had adorned the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States." He continued in the discharge 
of his laborious duties until his death in 1777 ; aged 72.* 

There was an extensive settlement made by Scotch Irish 
emigrants about 1720, on the Pequea and its tributaries, in the 
county of Lancaster. The Rev. Adam Boyd was commission- 
ed to collect a congregation at that place, which he did, prob- 
ably about the time he was settled as a pastor over upper Oc- 
torora, which was in 1724. The congregation at Pequea was, 
for years, under the pastoral care of Rev. A. Craighead, and 



* Enc. Ret., Miller's Rel., Alexander's Log Col. 



47 

Ms successor, the Rev, D. Alexander, until 1750, when the 
Rev. Robert Smith, D. D., was installed. He labored faithful- 
ly, not only as the pastor of this congregation, but gave a por- 
tion of his time and labor to the congregation at " the Run," 
after, and now known as the " Cedar Grove Presbyterian 
church." Dr. Smith was not only a faithful pastor, but one 
of talents, learning, and piety. Having received his education 
at the Log College, like many others educated there, he di- 
rected his talents, and attainments, to the instruction of others. 
He established at Pequea a classical and theological institu- 
tion of a high character, about a half mile from the church. 
At this school, amongst many others of usefulness, were edu- 
cated the three sons of Dr. Robert Smith. Here was laid the 
foundation of the eminence of his son. Rev. Samuel S. Smith, D, 
D., President of Hampden Sidney College in Virginia, and 
afterwards President of Princeton College, where he presided 
for eighteen years, with great ability, being eminent as a 
scholar, author, and for pulpit eloquence. At Pequea was 
also born Dr. Smith's second son, Rev. John Blair Smith, who 
received there his education,* and succeeded his brother, as 
President of Hampden Sidney, and was afterwards the first 
President of Union College in Schenectady. He was an elo- 
quent, evangelical and successful minister. At the same 
place, was born and educated, the Rev. William Smith, the 
third son, who was a pious and judicious minister, and though 
less distinguished, than either of his other brothers, yet, in the 
opinion of his good father, "to comfort and edify the plain 
Christian, he was equal to either of them."* Dr. Robert 
Smith, after a life of labor and great usefulness at Pequeay 
for forty-two years, died, at the age of seventy. The labors 
of such a pastor, and instructor, for such a period, must have 
been blessed to the conversion, and edification of many of the 
community, where he labored. 

The Rev. Patrick Allison, D. D., was born in Lancaster 
county in 1740, and received his education in the College of 
Philadelphia, and was installed pastor of the Presbyterian 



* Log College by Alexander, 200. 



4S 

church in Baltimore in 1762, where he remained honored and 
useful until his death in 1802, in the sixty-second year of his 
age. Dr. Allison held a place in the very first rank of Amer- 
ican clergy. He shone with distinguished lustre in the judi- 
catories of the Church. For the perspicuity, correctness, 
sound reasoning and masculine eloquence of his speeches in 
ecclesiastical assemblies, he was long admired and had scarcely 
an equal."* 

To the extended list of eminent men of Irish origin or de- 
scent, already presented, distinguished for usefulness in the 
Province of Pennsylvania, in its early history, might be added 
that of the Rev. Charles Beaty, a native of Ireland, who had 
received there a good classical education, and which he exten- 
ded and finished at the Log College, and being licensed to 
preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, was settled as 
Pastor of the church at Neshaminy, left vacant by the death 
of the venerable founder of the Log College. Rev. Mr. Bea- 
ty was engaged much in missionary labors about 1745, visit- 
ing destitute Presbyterian settlements. Dr. Alexander says, 
he was an able, evangelical preg-cher, and was much esteemed 
for his private virtues and public labors. He was distinguish- 
ed for public spirit and popular address. He died on the 
Island of Barbadoes, where he was taken sick in collecting funds 
for the aid of the College at Princeton in 1772. The Rev. 
John Ewing, pastor of the first Presbyterian church in Phila- 
dalphia in 1759, graduated in the College of New Jersey, and 
was elected Provost of the University of Pennsylvania in 1779, 
and died in 1802, in the seventy-first year of his age. Dr. 
Miller said that " the eminent character of this gentleman, 
the vigor of his talents, the extent of his learning, his extraor- 
dinary accomplishments, at the head of a literary institution, 
and his excellence as a preacher, is well known." 

To appreciate the value of the labors and usefulness of the 
learned public benefactors, referred to, it is necessary to have 
in view the times and circumstances, under which they appear- 
ed, and in which they were actors. The Province of Penn- 



* Miller's Life of Rodgers, 179. 



49 

sylvania was in its infancy ; witli a government, simple, ex- 
perimental and inefficient for the maintenance of its laws ; 
with an extensive territory, nine-tenths of which, was a wilder- 
ness ; whose population was made up of emigrants from diflFer- 
ent countries ; with finances inadequate to the purposes of gov- 
ernment, and with its Proprietary, who was the owner of the 
soil, possessing great control in the government, yet, during 
the greater part of the time, residing in England. At such 
time, this Province was blessed, in having within its borders the 
eminent men, of whose lives a sketch has been given ; classical 
and scientific education were not provided for in any insti- 
tution by government, or by any associations contributing 
funds to its support.* It was left to individual enterprise to 
supply the destitution, and at this crisis, William Tennent, 
Sr., was the individual, under Providence, first to apply his 
talents and acquirements, to the experiment of establishing a 
school under his care, for the classical, scientific and religious 
education of young men. Though his undertaking was ridi- 
culed, as presumptuous and visionary, yet, as narrated, it was 
eminently successful. That success is fully attested by the 
brief history of the men educated in that school, who, for learn- 
ing, eloquence, piety and usefulness were not surpassed, in their 
day, by the educated men of this or any other country. The influ- 
ence of the Log College Institution, and of the kindred ones 
established and maintained by some of its pupils, in elevating 
and extending education, sanctified hj the teachings of the 
Bible, with its precepts of the Law and Gospel, was incalculable 
for the best interests of the Province. A warm and earnest 
Christianity, was the animating spirit of these humble semina- 
ries, which was infused into most of their pupils, and made 
them the instruments of religious and moral instruction to 
others. 



* At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Colleges in the colonies did 
receive but little patronage from '^England, and were dependent on the 
labors, enterprise, literary and benevolent efforts of a few individuals. In 
England many said, " Let the colonists attend to the production of the 
earth, and look to England for learning and learned men." When 
pressed on the subject of religion in the colony, one of the lords of trade 
implicated a curse upon their soiils, and said, " let them make tobacco." — 
Footc's Virg., 161. 

4 



During the first half of the last century, where were there 
in office or station, under government, men whose services or 
usefulness to the community, were to be compared with that of 
the founders of the schools referred to ? There were politicians 
and office holders, who were more conspicuous, whose power 
and patronage commanded influence and attention, yet much 
of their time was passed in the routine of prescribed, subordi- 
nate, official duties, or in intrigue to maintain and advance 
their power and interests. The best and most prominent of 
the men in the Provincial government, were then, in a great 
measure, engrossed with frivolous controversies between differ- 
ent departments of the government, about the legitimate ex- 
ercise of their respective powers, and to the neglect and pre- 
judice of the public interests* The men who signalized them- 
selves at this period, by their acts of public usefulness, were 
the founders and conductors of the institutions for education 
described. They were men of learning, piety, and great puri- 
ty of character, who appreciated education, and deplored the 
want of suitable institutions for it, as required by a rapidly in- 
creasing and destitute community. They were poor Presbyte- 
rian ministers of Scotch Irish nativity or descent. Having neith- 
er silver nor gold to give, in founding iastitutions for the 
intellectual, moral, and religious improvement of the people, 
they gave what they had, their time, labor, talents, and learn- 
ing. They planted and watered, and, under God, their work 
prospered ; the fruits of which were gathered and enjoyed, not 
only in their own day, but by generations, then unborn. 

Extensive settlements, by respectable emigrants from Ire- 
land and Scotland, were made in other parts of Lancaster 
county, than those already enumerated. They had their min- 
isters of the Gospel and their schools, but not of the eminence 
of those described. The settlement in the district, which we 
presume, received its name of Donegal, from the origin and 
choice of the settlers, was extensive, embracing a large dis- 
trict of fertile and choice lands. As early as 1726, this settle- 
ment had progressed so far in improvement and organization, 
as to have ths Rev. James Anderson, from Ireland, as their 
pastor, the church being called that of " New Donegal." In 



m 

1732, the increase in the number of Presbyterian congrega- 
tions, induced the formation of another Presbytery in Penn- 
sylvania, which was called the Donegal Presbytery. Its 
jurisdiction embraced the frontier settlements, and though its 
boundaries became, in the progress and increase of population 
and the Church, reduced, it still exists under its ancient name. 
From the township of Donegal, many respectable settlers 
sought to improve their circumstances, by removing into the 
Kittochtinny valley, west of the Susquehanna, and some made 
their homes in the southern colonies, in the same extended 
valley, which made Donegal a place of note, in the dis- 
tant south. 

In the history of York county, by Messrs. Carter & Gloss- 
brenner, it is stated : " That about the years 1734-35 and 36, 
families from Ireland and Scotland settled in the southern 
part of the county of York, (then Lancaster county) and what 
ia known as the " York Barrens." They consisted of the bet- 
ter order of peasantry ; were a sober, industrious, moral and 
intelligent people, and were, for the most part, rigid Presby- 
terians. Their manners partook of that simplicity, kindness 
and hospitality characteristic of the class to which they be- 
longed in their native countries. The descendants of these 
people still retain the lands which their respectable progeni- 
tors selected. And we are happy to add, that the present in- 
habitants, with the lands, inherited the sobriety, industry, in- 
telligence, morality and hospitable kindness of their predeces- 
sors." This is the testimony of impartial compilers of history, 
to the character of the early Irish and Scotch settlers, who, 
with their descendants, have occupied for more than a century, 
a large portion of the county of York. Soon after the origi- 
nal settlement, they erected a church near Muddy creek, which, 
with the neighboring settlements of Presbyterians, was 
Supplied by an approved ministry of the Gospel and its ordi- 
nances. To these settlements in the "Barrens," the semina- 
ry and classical school of Dr. Finley, at Nottingham, was so 
convenient of access, that young men, desirous of classical and 
scientific education, would be able to attain it there without 
inconvenience. That attention was given to education in these 



settlements, is attested bj the eminence of some of its sons. 
It was from this Scotch Irish district of sterile soil, came the 
Hon. James Smith, a native of Ireland, who, as a youth in the 
family of his father, settled there. He received his education 
under the immediate care of the celebrated Dr. Allison, at 
Philadelphia. Mr. Smith was one of the most distinguished 
Lawyers of Pennsylvania, enjoying an extensive and lucrative 
practice, in York and other counties. He was a prominent 
member of the Revolutionary Congress, and one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence, as well as an active and 
efficient member of many important committees appointed by 
Congress. He commanded, as Colonel, a Regiment in the 
Ilevolutionary army, and was a practising lawyer for about 
sixty years. He died in 1806, at the age of 93, in the bor- 
ough of York. From the same district, emanated Judge Hugh 
H. Breckenridge, well known for his classical attainments, his 
legal learning, and his ability, as a Judge of the Supreme 
Court of the State. Also, about the same time, the Hon. 
James Ross, of Pittsburg, distinguished and eminent, as a 
lawyer and statesman, and who, at the Bar, as a lawyer and 
advocate, or as a statesman in the United States, had no su- 
perior. Also, the Hon. John Rowan, who represented the 
State of Kentucky, in the United States Senate. 

These men were of the Scotch Irish race, reared and edu- 
cated in the Province of Pennsylvania, adorning the profession 
of the Law, in which they were engaged, and an honor to 
their progenitors, as well as to the State. 

Pennsylvania furnished in its early history, from Scotch L'lsh 
families, men educated in the schools of Dr. Finley, Dr. Alli- 
son, and others, distinguished, not only in the ministry, but 
as lawyers, jurists and statesmen, and for their literary and 
scientific attainments. Thomas McKean was born in Chester 
county in 1734, his father being a native of Ireland. He ac- 
quired an accurate knowledge of the languages ; of the practi- 
cal branches of mathematics, rhetoric, logic and moral philos- 
ophy, under the tuition and direction of Dr. Erancis .A.llison, 
preparatory to the study of the Law. His subsequent celeb- 
rity and reputation are so well known to the American people, 



53 

as to require no detail. A summary here is sufficient. He 
■was an eminent lawyer, and a member of the Revolutionary 
Congress, from its opening, in 1774, until the peace of 1783; 
a signer of the Declaration of Independence, President of 
Congress for a time. Chief Justice of the State of Pennsylva- 
nia, and Governor of the State for the Constitutional period. 

Hugh Williamson, of Scotch descent, was born in Chester x" 
county, in 1735, and received his education at the College of 
Philadelphia, under the direction of Dr. Allison, where he grad- 
uated in 1757. He was a man of great scientific acquire- 
ments, eminent for talents as well as learning. He removed 
from Pennsylvania, before the Revolution, to North Carolina, 
which State he represented in Congress for several terms with 
ability, and was a Delegate to the Convention that framed the 
Federal Constitution, of which he was a decided advocate. 
His history of North Carolina, in three volumes, attests his 
erudition, ability and research. 

David Ramsay, the American Historian, was born in Lan- 
caster county, in 1749, the son of James Ramsay, a respecta- 
ble farmer, who had emigrated from Ireland, and who, by the 
cultivation of his farm, provided for the subsistence and edu- 
cation of his family. His son, David, received his early edu- 
cation, in a common school, and in one of the academies of the 
country, and finished in Princeton College, where he graduated 
in 1765. Dr. Ramsay studied medicine at Philadelphia, 
where he graduated with great distinction ; and was distin- 
guished for abilities and literary attainments. Dr. Rush, who 
was intimate with him, said : " His talents and knowledge are 
universal. His manners polished and agreeable, and his be- 
havior to all men always without offence ; joined to all these, 
he is sound in his principles, strict, nay, more, severe in his 
morals, and attached, not by education only, but by principle, 
to the dissenting interest." The predominant trait in his 
character, was philanthrophy and piety, which influenced all 
his actions. He was the zealous advocate of American Inde- 
pendence, and attended the army in the capacity of Surgeon. 
Having removed to South Carolina, he represented that State 
in the Revolutionary Congress, and, during the absence of 



54 

John Hancock, President, presided for a year, with ahility, 
industry and impartiality. His historical works, and other 
productions, form part of the permanent literature of our 
country. 

Robert Fulton, the successful applier of steam to naviga- 
tion, was born in Little Britain, Lancaster county, 1765, of 
respectable Irish parents, who removed to Lancaster borough, 
where he received a good English education. His attainments 
and inventions, bespeak the high superiority of his talents. 

There was also a Scotch Irish settlement, at an early day* 
at Paxton, in the neighborhood of where Harrisburg is, coun- 
ty of Dauphin. This district was one of some notoriety, as 
near the frontier, where a ferry was established and maintain- 
ed by Mr. Harris, for crossing the Susquehanna — a great pub- 
lic accommodation — as well as being on the great road from 
Eastern Pennsylvania, through the Kittochtinny valley, to Vir- 
ginia, and the more southern Provinces. Traders, as well as 
Indians, met there for traffic and conference. It acquired also 
an ignominious notoriety, for the massacre of the Conestoga 
Indians, perpetrated by a few of its violent men. This deed 
was a barbarous one, and indefensible. Yet, it has been 
greatly exaggerated, without reference to the circumstances, 
that existed, to extenuate it. We shall take occasion to no- 
tice it more fully, before we terminate this vindication. 

About 1737, emigrants from the North of Ireland and Scot- 
land, settled in the north western part of York county, on the 
waters of Tom's and Marsh creeks, (now Adams county.) 
They were the first settlers in that district, which was sepa- 
" rated from the Kittochtinny valley on the west, by a range of 
mountains about ten miles in width. These settlers were a 
highly respectable community, moral, energetic, industrious, 
and intelligent ; of frugal and plain habits, but kind, friendly 
and hospitable. In their religious organization, they were 
Presbyterian, and as early 1740, missionary supplies were provi- 
ded for them by the Presbytery of Donegal. It would appear^ 
that they had settled on some of the choice lands, on the water 
courses referred to. Actual settlers had been invited and 
encouraged, by agents of the Proprietary, to make permanent 



55 

settlements on the lands in Pennsylvania, open to appropria- 
tion. Though this form of title was at first objected to by 
some of the Proprietary agents, unless followed by an official 
grant, yet it soon became prevalent, and was recognized, and 
established, as of validity with the Land Office grants, and 
only yielded to priority. Many of the settlers on Marsh creek, 
had made their settlements on lands, that had been surveyed, or 
set apart for a Proprietary manor. These manors were re- 
served, from sale or grant, in the ordinary forms. As the 
lands were wild, unimproved, aiid were the property of the 
Proprietary, remote from the settlements on a frontier, the 
settlers might readily suppose that, like all the other lands, 
not appropriated by settlers, they were open to settlement. 
This mistake of the settlers, was the occasion of unpleasant 
difficulty and controversy, between them aad some of the Pro- 
prietary officers. 

Mr. Peters, as Secretary of the Proprietory, with some as- 
sistants, in 1743, went into this settlement, to survey the 
manor lines, which would include the settlements and improve- 
ments of a number, who, for years, had been expending their 
money, time, and labor, in clearing and improving their sup- 
posed homesteads. The settlers, in considerable numbers, 
forbade the Proprietary agents to proceed with the survey, and 
on their persisting, broke the Surveyor's chain, and compelled 
the party to retire. The settlers were prosecuted, but sub- 
mitted, and accepted leases for a time, and purchased the 
lands before the leases expired, to the satisfaction of the par- 
ties interested. This resistance of the Proprietary agents, 
was deemed by them, a great indignity, and public offence, and 
the settlers implicated, were reproached as " lawless," by the 
Proprietary officers, and the opponents of the Irish, in the 
Province. 

.As these settlers had been in the actual and peaceable pos- 
session of the lands, they occupied for years, which were en- 
hanced much in value by their labors, they had the legal right, 
by the common law, to retain their possession, and defend 
that possession luntil they were ejected by a superior title, un- 
der the Judgment of a proper €ourt, and bj due course of law. 



56 

The resistance of these settlers, was not of the oflBcers of the 
law, or its authorities. The rights of the Proprietaries, in re- 
gard to their lands, were like those of any other individual, or 
vender, and were to be construed according to their contracts, 
express or implied. The Proprietary was not the government; 
their agents were not public magistrates, and were liable to 
mistakes, and could, and often did, commit wrongs, which were 
redressed by their superiors. The resistance, on this occasion, 
was not a "public offence," if it only restrained the Proprie- 
tary agents from disturbing ' the peaceable possession of the 
settlers, until it should be adjudged, by a competent Court, that 
they were to be removed. It was no other wrong than is com- 
mitted every day, by men who are in possession of real estate, 
by what they suppose a sufficient title, and who refuse to sur- 
render that possession, on the demand of a claimant, until there 
is an investigation of that title, by the tribunal of the law. 
These Marsh creek settlers, as soon as they understood their 
legal relation to the Proprietary, and before any trial, acqui- 
esced, and became tenents and purchasers, to the satisfaction 
of the Proprietary claimants. They were not, from principle, 
or habit, inured to passive obedience, irrespective of legal 
rights and authority, but as soon as the law was made mani- 
fest, they were obedient to its requisitions. Though the oppo- 
nents of the Irish race, in the Province of Pennsylvania, were 
disposed to make much of this " Marsh creek resistance," to 
the prejudice of the Scotch Irish early settlers, as evidence of 
their turbulent and lawless spirit, it was because they had lit- 
tle to complain of, in a class of citizens, who took care to un- 
derstand their rights, civil, religious, and political, and to 
maintain them, as well as respect the rights of others. 

The inhabitants of this part of the Province, increased in 
numbers and resources, and extended their improvements and 
the cultivation of their lands. Several large Presbyterian 
congregations were organized and maintained, within their 
bounds, and as was done by their kindred, in other places, the 
school-house building soon followed the erection of their own 
habitations, and the school-master was abroad in their midst ; 
and the minister of the Gospel, was to them, a watchman and 
shepherd, as well as their instructor. 



57 

Upon these settlers, and their families, was devolved the 
perilous duty of defending the whole settlement from the In- 
<dian incursions and ravages, in the wars, which followed Brad- 
dock's defeat, in 1755. The massacre and dispersion of the 
inhabitants of the Kittochtinny valley, during those wars, 
made Marsh creek settlement a frontier, and as the Indians 
crossed the Kittochtinny valley and its mountains, they both 
massacred, as well as carried off captive many of its inhabi- 
tants. 

The hardy settlers of this district, were, necessarily, called 
out, to defend their families and habitations, against the in- 
cursions of savage and cruel enemies, that spared neither age, or 
sex. These settlers organized themselves into military com- 
panies, and in concert with the inhabitants of the Kittochtin- 
ny valley, pursued the Indians, in their retreats, to their hiding 
places, in the western mountains ; whilst some of them formed 
a part of that gallant, brave, intrepid, and successful expedi- 
tion, under the command of Col. Armstrong, which attacked 
and captured the Indian fort and town of Kittaning, on the 
Allegheny river, in 1756. 

The men who had resisted the Proprietary agents, that came 
to survey their lands, on a claim for the Proprietary, periled 
their lives, in a distant campaign, across the mountains, to at- 
tack the Indians, and their French allies, and defend the lands 
and province of the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, against the 
invasions and devastation of the enemy, whilst the agents and 
favorites of the same Proprietary, with few exceptions, took 
care, to keep themselves at a safe distance from the enemy, 
and dangers. These resolute settlers held on to their lands, 
as a permanent abode for their families, and when the war 
of the Revolution broke out, all of them having the ability to 
bear arms, responded, with alacrity, to the calls of their coun- 
try, in defence of American liberty and independence. More 
willing or brave hearts, and higher patriotic feeling, were not 
to be found in the colonies. 

After the close of the Revolutionary War, some of the de- 
scendants of these Irish settlers, sought homes in western 
Pennsylvania, and after the lapse of some more years, others emi- 



58 

grated further west, where they became prominent, respecta- 
ble, and influential citizens of western States. 

Many of the descendants of this race, remained on the 
farms, or in the neighborhood, where their ancestors had resided. 
Some cultivate the same farms, and worship on the same hill, 
or near the same spring, where those ancestors, more than a 
century since, were accustomed to assemble, with their fam- 
ilies, for worship, with their Presbyterian brethren, accord- 
ing to their approved forms, and in the maintenance of vener- 
ated creeds. 

These descendants, who dwell in the neighborhood of those 
early settlements, form an intelligent, religious, and moral 
community, of law abiding and conservative habits ; many of 
whom, have enjoyed, and still possess, political and social dis- 
tinction, and are respected for enterprise, intelligence, and 
public usefulness. 



CHAPTER III. 

The attractions of the Kittochtinny Valley to Settlers — Who 
they were — Improvement and Progress — Religious and 
moral character of population — Qhurch organizations — 
Frontier — Peaceable intercourse with Indians, until after 
Braddoek's defeat — Exposure to Indian massacre and de- 
ivastation — Neglected by government — Harassed by Indian 
Wars — Dispersion of inhabitants — Murder of Conestoga 
Indians in Lancaster county — Indian Traders attacked — 
Murder of Indians by Frederick Stump in Sherman's val- 
ley — ffis rescue and escape — Return of inhabitants to the 
Kittochtinny valley in 1765 — Their progress, increase and 
occupation. 

There was no district of country, in the Province of Penn- 
sylvania, that had more to recommend it, to the early set- 
tlers, for agricultural purposes, than the valley of the Susque- 
hanna, opposite Harris' ferry. It was known by its Indian 
name of the Kittochtinny valley, from the extensive mountain 
range, as its western boundary, called the "Kittochtinny," 



59 

signifying " Endless mountains," extending through several of 
the Atlantic provinces. The Indian name of Kittochtinny, was, 
by the white population, softened, by dropping some of its 
consonants, and in general acceptation by them, after some 
time, called Kittatinny, which it retained, until supplanted 
by Cumberland, the name of the county. It is to be regret- 
ted, that it had not been allowed to retain its appropriate 
Indian name of Kittochtinny. That part of the valley, west of 
the Susquehanna, embraced, what now constitutes the county 
of Cumberland, and almost all of the county of Franklin. For 
fertility of soil, abundance of copious springs, clear running 
streams, variety of forest timber, luxuriance of vegetation, and 
salubrity of climate ; presenting, as a boundary, on two sides, 
mountain ranges, with a wide valley, made up of hills, planes, 
and dales, it was not surpassed, by any of the American colo- 
nies. Attractive as it was, its settlement was retarded, from 
being a frontier, remote from the eastern settlements, the In- 
dian claim to which, was not purchased by the Proprietary of 
Pennsylvania, until October, 1736. A great part of it was in 
controversy with the Proprietary of Maryland, who claimed 
the same as belonging to that Province. 

To assert and maintain the claim and jurisdiction of Penn- 
sylvania, to this valley, west of the Susquehanna, some reso- 
lute and enterprising citizens were induced, by the Proprieta- 
ry agents of Pennsylvania, to make settlements in this district, 
under Pennsylvania authority, which was done in a few instan- 
ces, as early as 1730-31, and were continued until January, 
1734, when a commission was issued to Samuel Blunston, from 
the Proprietary of Pennsylvania, authorizing him to grant 
licenses, in writing, to settle lands west of the Susquehanna. 
They were an inception of title to much of the most desirable 
lands in -the valley, extending from the Susquehanna, to near 
the Potomac. With those settlements, under Pennsylvania au- 
thority, the Indians were satisfied, as they had been with those 
before, made west of Wright's ferry, near York. Their ten- 
dency was to restrain encroachments, under Maryland author- 
ity. The Proprietary of Pennsylvania, acknowledged the In- 
dian claim, and for some time, had been negotiating with them, 



60 

for a cession of it, delay of which, was occasioned by the re- 
tirement of some of the five nations, to the western rivers or 
lakes. 

That cession being obtained in 1736, and the Maryland con- 
troversy, being at the same time, suspended, by agreement of 
the Proprietaries of the two Provinces, the Land Office of 
Pennsylvania was opened in January, 1737, for the sale and 
appropriation of lands ivest of the Susquehanna, on the usual 
terms. The application for warrants, and the influx of settlers, 
were now great into this valley. 

The settlers, who occupied this part of the Kittochtinny 
valley, under the license system, were from Ireland and Scot- 
land. They were men of energy, enterprize, industry, and 
intelligence, being substantial farmers, with capital and re- 
sources, for improving and extending their farms. Their ori- 
gin, character, and the attractions of the country, induced 
the emigrants of the same nationalities, to flock to this dis- 
trict of country. Some of these, had been resident for a time, 
in the eastern part of the Province, and sought now to obtain 
a permanent home in the Kittochtinny valley. 

Though the frontier of the Province, it increased rapidly, 
and in 1750 had about 1000 taxables, its population being five 
or six thousand. Nine-tenths of the population were natives 
of Ireland or Scotland. There were a few respectable families 
of German Mennonites, settled east of where the town of 
Greencastle is now located, on the waters flowing into the 
Conococheague ; and also on the head waters of the Antietam. 
There were also sorne Germans, of substance and good charac- 
ter, who had settled near the Grindstone Hill, south of where 
Chambersburg is situated, belonging to the German Reformed 
Church, and a settlement of emigrants from Wales, on the 
Maryland boundary, on a stream of water flowing into west 
Conococheague, which gave to this stream, and the adja- 
cent country, the name of Welsh Run, by which it is still knqwn. 
There were some German families settled, at an early day, in 
the eastern part of the valley, near the Susquehanna. 

The taste, of the early settlers of this valley, was rural, and 
the occupation looked to for their families, was agricultural. 



61 

They selected lands, with a view to permanent residence, and 
as the means of maintaining their families. The first dwelling 
house erected in the Conococheague valley, was at the mouth 
of the Falling Spring, of hewed logs, and covered with a lapped 
shingle roof, secured by nails, in the usual manner. Many of 
the dwelling houses, of the first settlers, were built of choice 
logs, hewed and well put together, two stories high, and with 
several apartments above and below ; and as early as 1744, 
stone dwelling houses, of two stories, were erected, in diJBferent 
parts of the valley ; some of which, are still standing, and com- 
fortable residences for a family. The stranger, who came to 
view the land, was not regarded as an intruder ; but if of fair 
character, was received with warm hearts, and taken into hos- 
pitable families, and information and aid given to him, that 
would enable them to select lands that were eligible, and open 
to appropriation. Good, and convenient neighbors, were more 
desirable than extended territory. 

The settlers, in their settlement, were engaged in extend- 
ing their improvements, by buildings, clearing and enclosing 
lands for cultivation. They were characterized by enterprize, 
and persevering industry, and were generally of steady habits, 
religious and moral character. The great mass of them in 
this valley, being of Irish or Scotch nativity, had as their 
standard of Church organization, government, and creed, the 
Westminster Confession of Faith, with the Catechisms received 
from the Westminster Assembly. That standard was one on 
which their ancestors, and themselves, had stood and main- 
tained in a foreign land, of religious intolerance, and which, in 
a land of religious liberty, they were not disposed to depart 
from. 

As the settlements progressed, they were desirous of being 
supplied with a Gospel ministry, and as early as 1734, the 
Presbytery of Donegal sent supplies or missionaries into this 
valley, which, in their minutes is called the country, " Over the 
River." As the settlement progressed, under the "Blunston 
Licenses," congregations were organized in the years 1734-5- 
6, and 7. Before 1740, there were not less than eight 
Presbyterian congregations, organized in the valley, which had 



church buildings erected, for public worship, and most of them 
supplied by pastors, of their choice. The Presbyterian minis- 
ters, of that day, were nearly all of Irish nativity, and education. 
They were good classical scholars, as well as sound and learn- 
ed theologians. Among the early ministry of this valley, was 
the Rev. John Blair, educated at the Log College, of whose 
life a very brief memoir has been given. He was settled at 
the Great Spring, as early as 1741, having the charge of that 
and some neighboring congregations. 

Simultaneous with the organization of congregations by 
these settlers, was the establishment of school houses, in every 
neighborhood. In these schools, were taught little more than 
the rudiments of education, of which a part was generally ob- 
tained at home, under parental instruction. Reading, Writing, 
Arithmetic, Trigonometry, and Practical Geometry, were the 
branches to which attention was given. The Bible was the 
standard daily reader, by all classes able to read ; and the 
Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly, was to be 
recited, and heard by all in the school, as a standard exercise, 
on every Saturday morning. — 

The government of this extended community, was, in a great 
measure, patriarchial. The father was the instructor, and ru- 
ler of his household. Subordination to parents, was the uni- 
versal education and training, and obedience was the settled 
habit of the youth of the family. The great instrumentali- 
ties, in the instruction of youth, were home, the school, and the 
Church. Religion was the great principle, on which Wjas 
founded the early government of this people; the regulator of 
their families, their social and domestic habits. That religion, 
was that of the Bible, the fear and love of God, as the begin- 
ning of wisdom, and the keeping of his commandments, as 
taught in the Scriptures, as the great duty of man. In a 
community, without public magistrates, and oflScers of the 
law in the neighborhood ; influence and rule, would be with 
the eldest, and wisest of the people, and which, by common 
consent, would be extended over the morals and actions of in- 
dividuals. Public safety, peace and happiness, required this 
exercise of control by public sentiment, and respect for it 
would be accorded. 



6^ 

In 1735, by the order and appointment of the Court, the 
valley was divided into two townships, by a line crossing the 
valley at the " Great Spring," now Newville ; the eastern one 
called, " Pennsborough," and the western one, "Hopewell," 
and a Justice of the Peace and a Constable, appointed for each- 
In 1741, the township of Antrim was established, embra- 
cing the Conococheague settlement, and what now constitutes 
the county of Franklin, with a Justice of the Peace and Con» 
stable for it. 

These conservators of the peace, would be so few, over this 
extended country, as to afford but little aid to the maintenance 
of peace, order, and the authority of the laws. The great 
conservator and arbiter of right, would be the well regulated 
religious and moral sentiment of the community. The settlers 
were farmers, pursuing the even tenor of their way, in im^ 
proving and cultivating their farms, rearing and educating their 
children, and providing for their schools and churches. The 
people were obliged to be a law unto themselves. Having 
emigrated from a country, where the common law was the 
standard of right and wrong, in the relations of persons, ity 
and its principles, would be applied in aid of the moral law, 
to the actions of individuals. The provincial government 
had its place of business, with its offices and officers, at Phila- 
delphia ; the only officers of this government, seen by the set- 
tlers of this valley, for many years after its first settlement, was 
the Deputy Surveyor, to survey and return their lands. Whilst 
the local county government, until 1750, was at Lancaster, a 
distance, to many of the inhabitants, of one hundred miles, or 
more, the officers of this local government, with which the peo- 
ple of the valley had intercourse, before that period, were the 
assessors and collectors of the public taxes. The Courts, for 
the trial of criminals, was so distant from a great part of the 
valley, as to afford but little protection to the inhabitants. 

Yet the settlement of this division of the Kittochtinny valley, 
was expanding; its improvements progressing, and the comfort 
and resources of the inhabitants, rapidly increasing. This 
Scotch Irish settlement, was the most extensive of any in the 
Province, having in it, in 1748, about 800 taxables, dwelling 



in peace, and in the offices of good neighborhood with one 
another. During this period of patriarchal government, we 
do not learn, from history, or any public document, that any 
outrage was perpetrated within its bounds, by any .riotous, or 
unlawful assembly, or any high crimes committed against the 
laws. 

Predominant, as was the Scotch Irish element, in this set- 
tlement, with its numerous Presbyterian congregations, in 
every part of it ; yet it was not intolerant, or a persecutor of 
the small Mennonite and German Reformed societies, that were 
in its midst, or of any other denomination, that was inclined to 
make their abode in the valley. They lived in harmony with 
all, as Christian brethren, interchanging the oflBces of good and 
obliging neighbors. The population of this valley, had, for 
their southern boundary, the Province of Maryland, with which 
the vexed question of the actual location of that boundary, 
before 1739, was unsettled. In 1735-6, the conflict between 
the inhabitants of the two Provinces, in the eastern part of the 
county of Lancaster, was harassing, attended with riot, breach- 
es of the peace, blood-shed, and alleged murder, and where the 
settlers belonged to different classes of emigrants ; yet, in the 
Kittochtinny valley, with settlers living near, and adjacent to, 
the place where the temporary and permanent boundary lines 
were surveyed, there was no strife amongst them, about their 
respective possessions, which all were allowed peaceably to 
hold, until the proper Provincial jurisdiction was established, 
which was done first, in 1739, by the temporary line, which in 
the valley, was only half a mile north of the permanent line, 
established by Mason and Dixon's survey, in^ 1767. The 
western boundary, of the same valley, was the Kittochtinny 
mountains, of seventy miles in extent, being the frontier of the 
Province, and the Indian claim, extending from that boundary 
to the far west. The inhabitants of the valley, had for their 
neighbors, on the frontier, the Indian tribes of the west. 
Though most of the Indian nations had retired, on the advance 
of the white settlements, to the western waters, yet, they oc- 
casionallyj or parts of them, visited the white settlements, for 
traffic, conference, or to meet other tribes. There was inter- 



66 

course between them, and the inhabitants of the valley. From 
the first settlement, in this valley, until the Indians became, 
with their French allies, the public enemy of the English, and of 
the inhabitants of their colonies, the life of an Indian was not 
taken, or the blood of any shed, nor were they deprived of their 
property, by the inhabitants of this part of the Kittochtinny 
valley. History, or the public documents, furnish no record 
of any such wrong to the Indians ; and had there been any 
such, it would have been made known by the Indians, or by 
the agents of the Provincial government, who visited them. 
The Indians, and the inhabitants of this valley, many of whom 
resided at the base of the Kittochtinny mountain, did maintain 
an intercourse in peace, and without strife, until 1753, when a 
hostile spirit was first manifested, under the influence and insti- 
gation of the French. Several of the inhabitants of this valley, 
were carried into captivity, by the Indians, in 1752 and '53. 
They were subjected to great hardships, by a confinement, for 
a time, at Quebec, and afterwards in France, where their re- 
lease was procured by the English Ambassador. Op their 
return to Pennsylvania, the Assembly made provision lOr their 
restoration to their homes in the valley. Acts of Assembly, 
vol. 4. 

In September, 1754, a conference was had wi<;h the Indians, 
at the residence of George Croghan, the Indian Agent, at 
Aughwick. Notwithstanding Mr. Weiser.as the agent of the 
government, was there, to secure their friendly relations, aid- 
ed by liberal donations of money; yet, within a few days after, 
an Indian killed Joseph Campble, a vhite man, on the Conoco- 
cheague, near Parnel's Knob, witlx)ut any known provocation, 
and made his escape. We have not seen any evidence, docu- 
mentary, or other, that the in^labitants of this valley were in- 
censed by these repeated oi:crages of the Indians, at a time of 
professed peace, to commit against them any acts of revenge, 
in retaliation for the atrocious wrongs recited, and treacher- 
ously perpetrated by the Indians, on the white inhabitants of 
this valley. In this forbearance, the Scotch Irish race, exhib- 
ited a spirit far from being "pugnacious," or that they "hated 
the Indians," but, that there "were sentiments of honor, or 
5 



66 

magnanimity in their bosoms, that could restrain resentment." 
The success and prosperity of this community, in prosecu- 
ting the improvements of their farms, dwelling together in 
peace, maintaining their social and religious associations, with 
but the shadow of a public government, is evidence how little 
government is required for an agricultural people of religious, 
moral, and industrious habits, content with their occupation. 
This community, left to their own government, will, we think, 
for their good habits, bear a comparison with any other popu- 
lation, or any other settlement, of the American colonies, or 
with any settlement of the lands of the United States, to the 
same extent. 

For fifteen years and more, they lived, with the place of their 
county offices and sessions of their Courts, at a distance from 
them, of fifty to one hundred miles ; and when they petitioned 
the Legislature for the organization of the county of Cum- 
berland, in 1749, they " represented the great hardships they 
laid under, by being so remote from Lancaster, where the 
Courts were held, and the public offices kept, and how hard 
and difii<3ult it was for the ' sober and quiet part ' of the peo- 
ple to sect«:e themselves against thefts and other abuses, fre- 
quently com^sQitted by idle and dissolute persons, who, to es- 
cape punishment, resort to the more remote parts of the Pro- 
vince ; and owin^ to the great distance from the Court, or 
prison, frequently <^scaped." The obvious necessity, for the 
relief desired, induced, an immediate organization of the coun - 
ty of Cumberland in lT50. 

For some time before this, this part of the Kittochtinny 
valley was called by the whites " the North valley," to dis- 
tinguish it, we believe, from \ke extension of the same valley 
in Virginia, south of the Potoiqac river. After the organi- 
zation of Cumberland county, it very generally received the 
name of the " Cumberland valley," taking its name from the 
county, of which it was a small part. The Indians, however, 
long after, in their allusions to it, and the mountain range 
west, retained their ancient name of " Kitlochtinny." 

The inhabitants of this valley were destiixed to experience 
the sad deficiency, of their Proyincial government, in the rela- 



67 

tions of war. The storm, Indicated by the defeat of Braddock. 
and the dastardly flight of his successor in command, Dunbar, 
was viewed with terrible apprehension and danger, by the in- 
habitants along the frontier. These apprehensions were made 
known, in many memorials to the Assembly and Governor, 
signed by the mass of the people, imploring immediate mea- 
sures of defence by the government, for the protection of the 
settlements exposed. These supplications, acknowledged to 
be reasonable, and demanding the attention of the government, 
were not met by legislation, that had any efficiency for the 
relief of the alarmed inhabitants. The war was allowed to 
fall on the defenceless inhabitants of this valley, and other 
settlements, in all the horrors of savage cruelty. Families were 
surprised in their dwellings, and every member murdered and 
scalped ; their houses and buildings burned, and their cattle 
destroyed. The men organized themselves into companies, 
with their own small supply of arms and ammunition, to pur- 
sue the enemy, who were generally successful in their rapid 
retreat to the mountains and the wilderness. This barbarous 
warfare, was continued for about seven, or more years, against 
the inhabitants of this valley, who were left, in a great mea- 
sure, to their own resources and bravery, for the defence of 
the country against these cruel and powerful enemies. The 
forts, provided by the government, in the Cumberland valley, 
at Carlisle, Shippensburg, and Loudon, garrisoned each with 
about seventy men, afforded little or no protection. Separated 
by great distances, the Indians, in their incursions, could 
readily avoid them, as they did, and find still a wide field for 
an inhuman war, that was regardless of age, sex, or infancy. 
Even the Royal government, after the defeat of Braddock, in 
July, 1755, permitted three years and more, to elapse, when 
in the autumn of 1758, another army, under Gen. Forbes, was 
marched into the enemy's country, and took possession of Fort 
Du Quesne, abandoned by the French. So repeated were the 
massacres of the inhabitants of Cumberland valley, for years, 
that three fourths of them with their families, sought shelter 
and safety in the eastern parts of Lancaster and York counties. 
The men often returned to occupy some dwellings, that escaped 



68 

tlie torch of the savage, and cooperate with others, to watch and 
resist the Indians, whose mode of warfare was secrecy and sur- 
prise, murder of the defenceless, and a hasty retreat. The num- 
ber of white inhabitants, in this valley, slain, scalped, or carried 
into captivity, was great. The whole extended valley was 
made one of desolation and blood ; every neighborhood had its 
victims. The Indian warriors estimated, that in the first years 
of this war, they killed fifty whites for one Indian that 
was killed, and in after years, when the white inhabitants bet- 
ter understood their warfare, they still killed ten whites for one 
of their nation killed by the white inhabitants. This great 
disproportion arose from the slaughter by the Indians, of wo- 
men and children, for w^hose scalps their French allies reward- 
ed them liberally. 

The distress of the inhabitants of the Cumberland valley, 
during these wars, may be conceived better than described. 
Gordon, in his History of Pennsylvania, 383, says : " that in- 
cessant anxiety pervaded every family; their slumbers were 
broken by the yell of demons, or by the dvead of an attack, 
scarce less horrid than an actual attack. The ground was 
ploughed, the seed sown and the harvest gathered, under the 
fear of the tomahawk and rifle. Scai cely any outdoor labor 
was safely executed, unless protected by arms in the hands of 
the laborers, or by regular troop*. Women, visiting iheir sick 
neighbors, were shot or captured; children, driving home cattle 
from the field, were killed and scalped ; whilst tlie enemy das- 
tardly, as well as cruel, shrunk from every equality of force. 
Many of the richest neighborhoods were deserted, and prop- 
erty of every kind given up to the foe. Many instances of 
heroism were displayed by men, women and children, in de- 
fence of themselves and their homes, and in pursuing and 
combatting the enemy. There was certainly a great want of 
ability and energy in the constituted authorities and the govern- 
ment of the Province. United councils, and well directed efforts, 
might have driven the barbarians to their savage haunts, and 
repeated the chastisement they received at Kittanning, until 
they sued for peace. But imbecility distinguished the British 
ministers and ofificers, and paralized the efforts of the Provin- 
ces, especially that of Pennsylvania." 



69 

The complaints against the constituted authorities of the 
Provincial government, and supplications for defensive mea- 
sures, "were not confined to the Scotch Irish inhabitants of the 
frontier. The frivolous and endless disputes between the Gov- 
ernor and the Assembly, in a time of war and distress, incens- 
ed the German patience and overcame their constitutional "in- 
action. The inhabitants of the remote pai'ts of Philadelphia 
county, chiefly Germans, to the amount of four hundred, 
marched to the city unarmed, in a peaceable and orderly man- 
ner, to implore the protection of their rulers, and the postpone- 
ment of their unreasonable debates. They first waited upon 
the Governor, who accused the Assembly of procrastination ; 
and that body did not fail to rebut the charge, whilst they 
promised their sturdy petitioners, who crowded their hall, 
that means for their protection and safety should be speedily 
adopted."* 

The Indians were willing to avail themselves of the concili- 
atory policy of the public authorities, and meet the agents of 
the Government in conference, when invited ; and in which 
assurances of peace, friendship and fidelity were given by the 
Chiefs, who returned to their homes liberally rewarded by pres- 
ents, at the expense of the government. These pledges and 
assurances were regarded no longer than the time might be 
favorable to renew their hostilities on the white inhabitants, 
who might be surprised in their peaceful occupations, and there 
barbarously murdered by their false and treacherous foes. 

When the treaty of Peace was made in November, 1762, 
between the French and Enelish : and France surrendered its 
possession in the northern colonies to the English, with the 
assurances of friendship and peace, received from the Indians, 
who were so fully represented at a conference with the public 
agents at Lancaster, in September, in 1762, it was supposed 
by all interested, that the peace of the Province was establish- 
ed on a basis not to be disturbed. 

The inhabitants, who had fled with their families, to the 
eastern parts of the Province, returned in the autumn of 1762, 

Gordon, 315. 



70 

to the Kittoclitinny and adjacent valleys, to resume there the 
possession of their farms, laid waste by the savage enemy. In 
the Cumberland valley, the inhabitants, with their character- 
istic energy, applied themselves to rebuild their dwellings, to 
procure cattle, and cultivate their lands for a harvest expected 
to be gathered in safety. All was quiet on the frontiers, not 
a murmur or threat, from the Indians, that indicated hostility, 
was heard by the public agents, or by the inhabitants of this 
valley, who were comforting themselves on the enjoyment of a 
lasting peace. Sad disappointment was not far from them. 
" The unprotected state of the frontiers, consequent on the 
discharge of the forces of the middle and southern colonies, 
held forth irresistible temptation to the whetted appetite of the 
border savages for plunder. Their hostility had been reward- 
ed, rather than chastised, by Pennsylvania ; every treaty of 
peace was accompanied by rich presents; and their detention 
of the prisoners was overlooked, upon slight apologies, though 
obviously done to afford opportunities for new treaties and ad- 
ditional gift. The mistaken and perverted humanity of ' the 
Friendly Association,' had softened down their offences."* 

A secret and wide spread confederacy among the Indians, 
w^as suddenly executed by them, simultaneously, on all the Eng- 
lish forts, and the settlements of the frontiers, in the spring 
and summer of 1763. Their attack on the inhabitants of the 
Kittochtinny valley, east and west of the Susquehanna, was 
appalling. " The whole country west of Shippensburg, in this 
valley, became the prey of the fierce barbarians. They set 
fire to houses, barns, corn and hay, and every thing that was 
combustible. The wretched inhabitants, whom they surprised 
at night, at their meals, or in the labor of the fields, were mas- 
sacred with the utmost cruelty and barbarity ; and those who 
fied, were scarcely more happy, overwhelmed by sorrow, without 
shelter, or means of transportation. Their tardy flight was 
impeded by fainting women and weeping children. The in- 
habitants of Shippensburg and Carlisle, now became the barri- 
er towns, opened their hearts and houses to their afflicted 

* Gordon, 395. 



71 

brethren. In the towns, every stable and hovel was crowded 
with miserable refugees, who, having lost their houses, their 
cattle and their harvest, were reduced from independence and 
happiness to beggary and despair. The streets were filled with 
people, the men distracted, by grief for their losses, and the 
desire for revenge, more poignantly excited by the disconsolate 
females and bereaved children who wailed around them."* 

The like murders and bloody cruelties were inflicted at the 
same time, by the barbarous enemy, on the inhabitants of the 
Kittochtinny valley, east of the Susquehanna. Amongst them, 
the inhabitants of the township of Paxton, east of where Har- 
risburg is, in the county of Dauphin, had been sorely afflicted. 

The inhabitants, in this district, who had suffered from this 
inhuman war, were exasperated to excess against the Indians, 
as a treacherous enemy, on whose stipulations no confidence 
could be placed, and who were to be intimidated only by a chas- 
tisement, that would be an example and terror. Under the 
influence of these feelings, at a time of great alarm and ex- 
citement, attention was directed to the parts of the Delaware 
and Six Nation tribes, resident on Conestoga, " who refused 
to join their brethren in arms, professed affection for the colo- 
nists, and avowed their determination to remain neutral. That 
neutrality was denied, and of part of them was very doubtful. 
Many outrages were committed in consequence, as was gener- 
ally believed, of the information and advice they gave to the 
invaders ; and some murders were perpetrated, which the pub- 
lic voice ascribed to a party under the protection of the Mora- 
vian brethren."t 

" That some of the Conestoga Indians were treacherous, ap- 
pears (says Mr. Rupp) abundantly, from the facts set forth in 
the affidavits of respectable persons. It was fully believed by 
the Paxtonians, that what were called the friendly Indians, 
connived at, if not directly stimulated the hostile ones, in their 
relentless attacks upon the frontier settlers, at that time."| 
" That these friendly Indians were guilty of treachery and 
perfidy, in the manor of Conestoga, would seem evident from 



Gordon, 398. f Gordon, 404. J Rupp's His. Lane, 852-4. 



72 

a number of authentic statements and evidence, from other 
credible sources."* 

When the Rev. John Elder, of Paxton, heard that a number 
of persons had assembled, to proceed to Conestoga, to cut off 
the Indians, he did all in his power to prevent it. He remon- 
strated with them on its unlawfulness and barbarity, and as- 
sured them that they would be liable to capital punishment, 
(Letter to Gov. Penn.) His advice and remonstrance were 
not regarded, and on the 14th Dec, 1763, a number of men 
from Paxton and Donegal, attacked the Indian village at Con- 
estoga, and there murdered all of the tribe at their town, being 
six : three men, two women and a boy, and burned their dwel- 
lings. Amongst the slain, was one chief, who was distinguish- 
ed for his friendship to the whites. The majority of the Indians 
of the town were absent, at the time of the attack. These, by 
the agents of the Governor and magistrates, were afterwards 
removed to the jail in Lancaster, as a place of security. Not- 
withstanding the proclamation of the Governor, offering a re- 
ward for the apprehension of the murderers at Conestoga, and 
enjoining vigilance on the part of the public magistrates, a 
number of Paxtonians and others, amounting to about thirty 
persons, suddenly made their appearance in Lancaster, on the 
27th day of December, marched to the prison, forced the doors 
and inhumanly murdered all the Indians found within its walls, 
regardless of their supplications and protestations of innocence. 
The number thus murdered were fourteen, three men, three 
women and eight children."! 

Humanity revolts at deeds so cruel and barbarous, as those 
just recited, only becoming a savage enemy. Cruel as war is, 
in its mildest forms, it becomes doubly cruel when waged with 
savages. Their barbarous murder of women, infancy and age, 
induces in their more intellectual and civilized enemies, re- 
venge and retaliation. It is considered by authorities on na- 
tional law, that such severities and retaliation, with a fero- 
cious and savage enemy, are legitimate warfare, that by such 
retaliation they may be brought to a sense of the laws of hu- 



* Kupp's His. Dauph., 163. F. vol. 4, Penn. Arch., 139. f Vol. 9, Col. 
Rec, 103, 



i6 



manity.'. It is considered, that by such retaliation only, can 
Indian barbarities be encountered, and they intimidated. In 
the wars which the Indians had been waging on the inhabitants 
of the settlements for seven years, in which most of the victims 
were women and children, their own families, being remote from 
the seat of war, escaped, with the exception of the few who 
fell in the attack on their town of Kittanning, 1756, under the 
command of Col. Armstrong. 

One of the great evils of war, is its corruption of human 
t<\Vl) nature, and hardening the heart to all the sensibilities of hu- 
manity. IVhilst we condemn the murder of the Conestoga In- 
dians, as atrocious and barbarous, there is some extenuation 
to be allowed to fathers and husbands, who, but a few months 
before, were agonized in mourning over murdered wives and 
children, whose blood, as they firmly believed, was on the 
hands and skirts of the barbarous and treacherous enemy, who 
were living near them, under the protection and support of the 
government. " That inhabitants, whose dwellings had been 
pillaged and burned, their families murdered and scalped, by 
an enemy, who, but a few months before, had, in public con- 
ference, given the most solemn assurances of peace and friend- 
ship, and who renewed their hostilities, without complaint or 
warning, should be driven to desperation, is not to be wonder- 
ed at. They were men with the infirmities and passions of 
men. The desperate combination to avenge on the Conestoga 
Indians, the barbarous cruelties, inflicted on the border fami- 
lies of the whites, was limited, and confined to a few. The 
most reliable account on record of them, is to be found in the 
communication of the Rev. John Elder to Governor Penn, 
Dec, 16, 1763, who was the pastor of a Presbyterian congre- 
gation in the township of Paxton, and who was respected and 
beloved for his estimable character. Mr. Elder in his letter says: 
" I thought it my duty to give you this early notice, that an 
action of this nature may not be imputed to these frontier set- 
tlements. For I know not one person of judgment or pru- 
dence, that has been in any wise concerned in it ; but it has 
been done by some hot-headed, ill-advised 'persons, and espe- 
cially by such, I imagine, as suffered much in their relations, 
hy the ravages committed hy the late Indian war." 



74 

And in a subsequent letter, from the same, to the Governor, 
of 27th January, 1764, it is stated, that, '* The storm, which 
had been so long gathering, has at length exploded. Had 
government removed the Indians from Conestoga, which had 
frequently been urged without success, this fearful catastro- 
phe might have been avoided. What could I do with men 
heated to madness ? All that I could do was done ; I expos- 
tulated, but life and reason were set at defiance, and yet the 
men in private life, are virtuous and respectable ; not cruel, 
but mild and merciful. The time will come, when each pallia- 
ting circumstance will be calmly weighed. This deed, magni- 
fied into the blackest of crimes, shall be considered as one of 
those youthful ebullitions of wrath, caused by momentary ex- 
citement, to which human infirmity is subjected." 

The outrage perpetrated by the murders in the Lancaster 
jail or work house, was more flagitious, than that at the Indian 
town. There had been time for passion to subside, and for 
reason and humanity to resume their control. The doors of a 
public prison were forced, and the barriers of the law, public 
faith and security, set at defiance. The authorities of the gov- 
ernment, that had the Indians removed to this place, under as- 
surance of protection and safety, were culpable, that they did 
not, at the peril of their lives, prevent the murderous assassi- 
nation; or have arrested the perpetrators, in a town having a 
population of over two thousand, and in it, at the time, a com- 
pany of the King's troops, under the command of Capt. Rob- 
ison. Had the magistrates, who assumed the responsibility 
of protection, repaired to the jail, with a few resolute men, 
under the panoply of the law, they would have been a host, in 
themselves, to have repelled the criminal assailants, not number- 
ing more than thirty. Whether successful or not, they were 
bound by every obligation of duty to have made the attempt, 
at the hazard of their lives. It is a reflection on the magis- 
trates and authorities, who were instrumental in placing the 
Indians in the public jail, as Avell as the citizens of Lancaster, 
that they permitted this outrage, and the escape of the perpe- 
trators. The insurgents increased in number, by accessions in 
Lancaster county, and some time after repaired to the neigh- 



75 

borhood of Philadelphia, and made threats against the safety of 
the Indians there, under the protection of the Provincial gov- 
ernment. Better councils prevailed with them, and they re- 
turned to their homes -without any other acts of violence. 

The inhabitants of the frontier, who had suffered for so 
many years, from the ravages of Indian warfare, remained in- 
censed against the Provincial government, which had failed in 
a first and most imperative duty to its citizens, nf protection 
against a public and savage enemy; and which was feeding 
and maintaining then, at the public expense, more than one 
hundred Indians, many of whom were believed by the settlers 
to have been perpetrators of the most horrid barbarities, but 
a few months before on the white settlements ; and yet the 
government made no provision for more than a thousand fami- 
ilies of the inhabitants of the frontier, reduced to extreme dis- 
tress, by the destruction of their dwellings, furniture, cattle 
and crops, and who were dependent on private charity.* They 
despaired of adequate protection from the government, or a 
change of the policy of rewarding the Indians by presents, 
for their promises of good behavior, instead of intimidating 
them by chastisement, — as long as the government was organ- 
ized as it was, with its legislature controlled by about one tenth 
of the population of the Province, who were opposed to 
military armament, or appropriations for the public defence. 

The kilHng of the Indians at Conestoga and Lancaster, 
was aggravated or extenuated by the political parties in Penn- 
sylvania, as they were divided in relation to the administra- 
tion of the government. We give the representations of that 
affair, and the public feeling, by the Rev. John Ewing, D. D., 
who then, and after, sustained a high reputation for learning, 
intelligence, piety, and purity of character. It is in his letter 
addressed to Joseph Reed, at London, who was afterwards 
President of the Executive Council. 

PlnladelpMa, 1764. 

" As to public affairs, our Province is greatly involved in 
intestine feuds, at a time when we should rather unite, one and 

* Gordon, 408. 



T6 

all, to manage the affairs of our social government, with pru- 
dence and discretion. A few designing men, having engross- 
ed too much power into their hands, are pushing matters be- 
yond all bounds. There are twenty-two Quakers in our As- 
sembly, at present, w^ho, although they wont absolutely refuse 
to grant money for the King's use, yet never fail to contrive 
matters in such a manner, as to afford little or no assistance to 
the poor distressed frontiers ; while our public money is lavish- 
ly squandered away, in supporting a number of savages, who 
have been murdering and scalping us for many years past. 
This has enraged some desperate young men, who had lost 
their nearest relatives, by these very Indians, to cut off about 
twenty Indians, that lived near Lancaster, who had, during the 
war, carried on a constant intercourse with our other enemies; 
and they came down to Germantown to inquire why Indians, 
known to be enemies, were supported, even in luxury, with the 
best that our markets afforded, at the public expense, while 
they were left in the utmost distress on the frontiers, in want 
of the necessaries of life. Ample promises were made to them, 
that their grievances should be redressed, upon which, they im- 
mediately dispersed and went home. These persons have 
been unjustly represented, as endeavoring to overturn the gov- 
ernment, when nothing was more distant from their minds. 
However this matter may be looked upon in Britain, where 
you know very little of the matter, you may be assured that 
ninety-nine in an hundred, of the Province, are firmly per- 
suaded, that they are maintaining our enemies, while our 
friends, who are suffering the greatest extremities, are neglected; 
and that few, but Quakers, think that the Lancaster Indians 
have suffered any thing but their just deserts. Tis not a lit- 
tle surprising to us here, that orders should be sent from the 
Crown to apprehend and bring to justice, those persons who 
have cut off that nest of enemies, that lived near Lancaster. 
They never were subjects to his Majesty; were a free, indepen- 
dent State, retaining all the powers of a free State, sat in all 
our treaties with the Indians, as one of the tribes belonging to 
the Six Nations, in alliance with us ; they entertained the 
French and Indian spies; gave intelligence to them, of the de- 



77- 

fenceless state of the Province ; furnished them with our Ga- 
zette every week or fortnight; gave them intelligence of all the 
dispositions of the Province army against them ; were frequent- 
ly with the French and Indians at their forts and towns ; sup- 
plied them with warlike stores; joined with the strange Indians 
in their war dances, and in the parties that made excursions 
on our frontiers ; were ready to take up the hatchet against 
the English openly, when the French requested it ; actually 
murdered and scalped some of the frontier inhabitants ; inso- 
lently boasted of the murders they had committed, when they 
saw our blood was cooled, after the last treaty at Lancaster ; 
confessed that they had been at war with us, and would soon be 
at war with us again, (which accordingly happened) and even 
went so far as to put one of their own warriors, Tegarie, to 
death, because he refused to go to war with them against the 
English. All these things were known to the frontier inhabi- 
tants, and are since proved upon oath. This occasioned them 
to be cut off by about forty or fifty persons, collected from all 
the frontier counties, though they are called by the name of 
the little township of Paxton, where possibly the smallest part 
of them resided. And what surprises us more than all, the 
accounts we have from England, is, that our Assembly, in a 
petition they have drawn up to the King, for a change of gov- 
ernment, should represent this Province in a state of uproar 
and riot, and when not a man in it has once resisted a single 
officer of the government, nor a single act of violence commit- 
ted, unless you call the Lancaster affair such, although it was 
no more than going to war with that tribe, as they had done 
before with others, without a formal proclamation of war by 
the government. I have not time, as you may guess, by this 
scrawl, to write more at this time. 

P. S. You may publish the above account, of the Lancas- 
ter Indians, if you please." — Life of Reed, Vol. I, page 84. 

At this period of excitement, the inhabitants of the frontier 
and their friends, renewed their accusation against the Qua- 
kers, charging them with having encouraged the Indians in 
their hostilities against the whites, and having aided them 
when so engaged, with guns and other instruments of death. 



78 

These accusations were repelled by theia, as unfounded, whilst 
thej reproached the Scotch Irish settlers of the Province, as 
aiders and abettors of the Conestoga murders, by the party 
from Paxton. When the charge of cruelty and hatred to the 
Indian tribes, by the Scotch Irish race, has since been repeat- 
ed by writers or compilers of history, the evidence to support 
the allegation, when any was furnished, was a reference to the 
Conestoga murders. Charges against the Society of Friends, 
for having encouraged and aided the Indians in their barbarous 
war on the whites, could only be referred to some few individ- 
uals of that respectable class of the population, whose princi- 
ples were opposed to war, and who were distinguished for peace, 
order and obedience to the law. It was unreasonable, as well 
as unjust, to charge either of these large masses of the popula- 
tion of the Province, with the wrongs and crimes perpetrated 
by a few of their misguided individuals. 

On the part of the Scotch and Irish, and the Presbyterian 
Church, who were implicated by their opponents in these out- 
rages against humanity and law, we repel the imputation as 
unfounded, and made without evidence and against evidence. 
There is the authority of the Rev. Mr. Elder, who resided near 
the residence of these offenders, " that they were a few hot- 
headed ill-advised persons ; that there was not one person of 
judgment or prudence, that had been in anywise concerned in 
it." " It was an ebullition of wrath caused by momentary 
excitement." On these excited men, no person would be sup- 
posed to have more influence, than the Rev. Mr. Elder. He 
was known to have no undue partiality for these Indian ene- 
mies, as for years, under the appointment of the Provincial 
government, he had the command of a company, for the de- 
fence of the frontier, against the Indian ravages, which was 
done faithfully, at the peril of health and life. That influence 
was exerted in vain, to subdue the excitement, or restrain the 
desperate purpose of these men. He also dispatched an ex- 
press after the party of rioters, to inform the government of 
their hostile purposes. The Governor in his reply to Mr. El- 
der, dated 29th Dec, 1763, expresses his approbation of his 
endeavors to prevent the execution of their wicked purposes. 



79 

The most extensive and numerous Scotch Irish settlement in 
the Province, at that time, was in the Cumberland valley, hav- 
ing in it more of the Presbyterian element, dwelling together, 
than in any other district. It had suffered more from Indian 
barbarities, than any other part of the Province, and at the 
time of the murder of the Conestoga Indians, hundreds of its 
families were mourning over murdered and scalped members, 
by the hands of treacherous savages ; and were destitute of the 
necessaries of life, of which they had been deprived by the 
same enemy. The eastern end of this valley was separated 
from Paxton township only by the river Susquehanna; yet there 
is no evidence, that the inhabitants of this valley had partici- 
pated in this transaction, or had any connection with it. There 
is the highest evidence, from the public documents of the time, 
to exonerate them from the imputation. Col. John Armstrong, 
of Cumberland county, at the time a magistrate, and having 
the command of the Provincial troops of that county, by his 
letter to Governor Penn, from Carlise, 28th Dec. 1768, ac- 
knowledges the receipt of the Governor's proclamation against 
the offenders at Conestoga, which he had distributed through- 
out the county, and states : "I have the pleasure to inform your 
Honor, that not one person of the county of Cumberland, so far 
as I can learn, has been consulted or concerned in that inhu- 
man and scandalous piece of butchery ; and I should be very 
sorry, that ever the people of this county, should attempt 
avenging their injuries, on the heads of a few inoffensive and 
superannuated savages, whom nature had already devoted to the 
dust."* This is the statement of an intelligent, brave, and hon-. 
est man, who had the best sources of information, and who 
would state truly what he did know, without being influenced 
by fear or favor. 

It was this extensive settlement, as before narrated, which 
maintained, from its commencement, until the Indians became 
the public enemy, a period of about twenty years friendly and 
peaceable intercourse with them^ without blood-shed, strife or 
violence. 



* Penn. Arch. voL 4, p^ge 152, 



We are not aware of any evidence of the Scotch Irish set- 
tlers of Bucks, and Chester counties, eastern portion of Lan- 
caster or York counties, as having any connexion with the 
massacres, perpetrated on the Indians at Conestoga or Lancas- 
ter. That they did not discover, or apprehend the perpetra- 
tors, if even in their power, was not a criminality that identifi- 
ed them with the offenders. The public mind was then con- 
vulsed with excitement and passion, and the public authorities 
were so unsettled, as to be unsafe holders of the scales of justice. 
At such a crisis, innocence might readily suffer, and the guilty, 
escape. The humanity of the law, established as its maxim, 
that it was better that many guilty persons might escape, than 
one innocent person suffer wrong, by the adjudication of the 
law. It allowed not angry passions to direct and control its 
measures, and impose its penalties. The perpetrators were allow- 
ed to escape, by reason of public sentiment being so strong 
against the Indians, as having been the treacherous and mur- 
derous enemy of the frontier inhabitants, and of the unwilling- 
ness, on the part of the great majority of the people, to appre- 
hend or punish the men, who had retaliated, as they supposed, 
on the tribe, some of their bloody cruelties, that had been in- 
flicted on the defenceless white families. 

The murder of the Conestoga Indians, with its extenuation, 
is a stain upon the annals of Pennsylvania. It was a tragedy 
performed by a few men, under the impulse of feelings excited 
at the time, by the mangled bodies of wives and children on 
the frontier, from the hands of Indians, in which the Conesto- 
ga Indians, if not active participants, were believed to be aid- 
ers and abettors. The reproach of this single act of barbarous 
warfare, is not to be put down to the condemnation of Penn- 
sylvania, or any classes of her inhabitants, or to subject them 
to the charge of excess against humanity. 

Reproachful as this warfare was to the Province, it is to 
be recollected, that Pennsylvania, was not the only colony of 
North America, which, in times of excitement, had allowed 
high crimes to be perpetrated with impunity, under less exten- 
uating circumstances in their early governments, by ex- 
cesses and outrages against the law and the lives and the prop- 



81 

erty of their people. Massachusetts had its judicial niur« 
dere, in the tribunals of the law, by trials conducted in the usual 
form, by which innocent men and women in numbers were con- 
victed and executed for witchcraft. The city of New York, in 
1741, with a population of about eight thousand, was the thea- 
tre of a cruel and bloody delusion, not less lamentable, under 
which judges and lawyers prostituted their stations, to sacrifice 
under color of law, slaves falsely accused of arson — tried with- 
out counsel — convicted upon insufficient evidence — and of whom 
thirteen were burned at the stake, eighteen hanged, and sev- 
enty one transported.* 

At the recital of such tragedies, humanity revolts, and de- 
plores the infirmity and depravity that perpetrated them, as 
well as the weakness of the law, and the inefficiency of its con- 
stituted authorities, that allowed the escape of the ofi'enders 
with impunity. 

Lawless and riotous proceedings were had near Fort Loudon 
in March 1765, in which some of the inhabitants of Cumber- 
land valley, residing near the base of the Kittochtinny moun- 
tain, participated. It being known that a large amount of 
goods had been brought into the neighborhood, from Philadel- 
phia, in wagons, to be carried by the Indian traders on pack 
horses to places of Indian trade, in and west of the mountains, 
a party of men assembled, amounting to about fifty, where 
Mercersburg is now situated, being on the traders' road. They 
there met the traders with their horses and goods on the way. 
One of the assembled party, Mr. Duffield, who was respected 
and prominent in the county, desired the persons having charge 
of the horses and goods, to store them and not proceed without 
further orders. They made light of this request and disregard- 
ed it, by pursuing their way over the mountain to the west. 
The assembled party pursued them across the Tuscarora moun- 
tain into the Great Cove, and again urged them to store up 
their goods. Mr. Duffield reasoned with them, on the impro- 
priety of their proceedings, and the great danger the frontier 
inhabitants would be exposed to, if the Indians should now get 

* Hil. His., Vol. 2, p. 392. 

6 



82 

a supply, as it was well known they liad scarcely any ammu- 
nition. To supply them now, would be a kind of murder, and 
would be illegally trading at the expense of the blood and 
safety of the frontiers. The traders ridiculed what he said, 
and disregarded it. Mr. Duffield and his party returned to 
their homes, without any attempt to restrain the trading party. 
Lieut. James Smith, one of Mr. Duffield's party, was not satis- 
fied to be so repulsed. Mr. Smith had commanded, for some 
years, a company of Rangers, employed in the defence of that 
frontier, against the incursions of the savages. He was a man 
of resolution, of indomitable courage, and inflexible from any 
purpose which he deemed necessary, for the safety of the in- 
habitants. With ten of his old company, he, the following 
night, pursued the traders, whom they overtook on Sideling 
Hill. They attacked them by shooting their horses, and re- 
quired them to leave their goods, except their private proper- 
ty, and retire. This was done, and the goods for trading, con- 
sisting, amongst other things, of blankets, lead, tomahawks 
and scalping knives, were burned and destroyed, and after 
this, gun powder, which they had stored. The traders, re- 
turned to Fort Loudon, which was then under the command of 
Lieut. Grant, a Royal officer, with a company of Highland 
soldiers. The Lieutenant assigned to them a guard of sol- 
diers, who assisted in arresting, without oath, warrant, or any 
process from a magistrate, a number of the inhabitants of the 
neighborhood, who had no concern in the attack on the traders, 
or the destruction of their goods, and who were brought to 
Fort Loudon and there confined. Smith soon appeared before 
the Fort, with three hundred riflemen under his command, 
when a parley was had, which led to the immediate release of 
the confined inhabitants. There was still kept in the Fort 
some of their guns, that had been taken by the soldiers. Lieut. 
Grant, having gone into the country, near the Fort, was 
taken into custody by some of the dissatisfied inhabitants, and 
released on his promise to deliver up the guns withheld in the 
Fort, and which was complied with. 

The author of these violent proceedings was Lieut. Smith, 
having with him ten of his rangers. The inhabitants of the 



\ 



83 

neighborhood of Fort Loudon promptly assembled to resist and 
redress the arbitrary and illegal proceedings of the soldiers 
from Fort Loudon, in arresting and confining at their will, re- 
spectable persons who had no participation in the affair. The 
proceedings of Smith, and his party, had their approbation, as 
necessary to the defence and safety of that frontier against a 
savage enemy. That enemy had the preceding summer, sur- 
prised the inhabitants of Conococheague, by their sudden and 
unexpected attack, inflicted on them the most cruel barbarities, 
murdering and scalping many, amongst whom, was a school- 
master, and the children of the school. Several tribes of In- 
dians were still in hostile attitude in their wild retreats, on the 
western waters. As the government had no force adequate to 
the protection of the frontier; or the chastisement of the skulking 
and bloody savages, who were generally successful in their rav- 
ages, the great reliance for peace on the frontier, was the want 
of means and supplies with the Indians, to enable or encour- 
age them to renew their murderous incursions. 

An Act of Assembly of Oct., 1763, prohibited the selling of 
guns, powder, or other warlike stores, to the Indians. The 
trader, who had a license to trade with the Indians, was pro- 
hibited from selling them military stores, or war implements. 
These traders had long been reputed, vicious, lawless and pro- 
fligate, regardless of the law, the Governor's proclamations 
and the complaints of the Indians, in relation to their traflic 
with the Indians in Rum. The provincial government ac- 
knowledged its inability to restrain them, and execute the law ; 
and advised the Indians before the Indian wars, to execute the 
law themselves against the traders, by seizing and destroying 
the Rum brought to their trading places. The government 
had not yet done any thing efficient, for the defence of the 
frontier inhabitants. Those in the Cumberland valley, had been 
left, in a great measure, to their own resources and defences, 
during the nine years of Indian war, following Braddock's de- 
feat. To them, these wars were attended with the sacrifice of 
many men, women and children, and the destruction of much 
of their property. 
The apprehension of the renewal of these savage wars in the 



84 

coming season, ^Ta8 overwhelming to the inhabitants on west 
Conococheaguc, ■who, living near the base of the mountains, 
through which the Indians had their war paths, were most 
exposed to their incursions. That apprehension was well found- 
ed, and the danger imminent, if the Indians were stimulated 
by a supply from the traders of military stores and implements 
of murder. The public exigency and safety demanded prompt 
action; the peace of the country was involved. The question 
was one of life or death, to an extensive settlement. The only 
effectual restraint upon them, and others pursuing the same 
trade, was the destruction of their property. This, weighed 
against the- blood, lives and property of the inhabitants of this 
frontier, was as the dust of the balance. The men, who had 
for years periled their lives in defence of that frontier, assum- 
ed to seize and destroy their military stores, on their way to 
the enemy. 

The proceedings of these border inhabitants against the In- 
dian traders and the garrison at Fort Loudon, were very of- 
fensive to the officers of government. Gen. Gage, who com- 
manded the Royal forces in the Province, was indignant at the 
disrespect manifested for the King's fort and garrison. The 
Governor had warrants issued for the arrest of Lieut. Smith, 
and the other offenders. 

The public sentiment, of the great mass of the people, was 
so manifest, in favor of the arbitrary proceedings of Smith and 
his friends, as necessary to the public defence and safety of 
human lives, that the criminal proceedings instituted against 
them were withdrawn; and as a treaty of peace was formed 
shortly after the occurrence, with the remaining tribes of 
Indians, who had been hostile, the public fears were allayed, 
and the traders pursued their traffic, having more regard to 
the laws and public opinion. 

In the year 1768, there was a riotous and lawless proceed- 
ing, by a party of rioters, in rescuing from the prison in Car- 
lisle, Frederick Stump, a German, with his German servant 
man, who were in confinement on the charge of murdering in 
Sherman's valley, west of the Kittochtinny mountain, ten 
Indians : four men, three women and three children. Of their 



85 

guilt, there was no doubt. The murder was unprovoked, and 
indefensible, and in defence of himself, the monster only al- 
leged that the Indians were intoxicated and disorderly, and he 
apprehended some injury. Some of his indignant neighbors 
arrested him and his servant, and lodged them in Carlisle jail. 
A warrant had been issued by the Chief Justice of the Pro- 
vince for the arrest of Stump, and required him to be brought 
before him at Philadelphia, " to answer for said murders, and 
to be dealt with according to law."* Though public opinion 
was strong against the prisoners, that they ought to be con- 
victed and punished, with all the severity of the law, yet the 
warrant for the removal of Stump to Philadelphia, was consid- 
ered an illegal encroachment on the rights of the citizen, who, 
by law, was secured a trial for his crime in the county where 
committed, and a jury of the vicinage for his triers, and that 
the removal of Stump, if allowed, might be a precedent for the 
removal of innocent men, who might be oppressed by a trial 
in a distant jurisdiction. Opposition to his removal was express- 
ed and threats were made, inducing an apprehension of rescue 
from the Sheriff, on his way to Philadelphia, if attempted. It 
would seem that a regard to the law, public justice and the 
safe keeping of the prisoner, as well as to quiet the minds of 
the people, induced Justice Armstrong, with some other magis- 
trates, to confer on the subject, and after executing a commit- 
ment of Stump to the jail, on the charge of murder, they ad- 
vised the Sheriff, for fear of rescue on the way, which was 
threatened, until further orders were received from the govern- 
ment, to defer the removal. A party under arms, who had 
assembled for the rescue, then dispersed, when informed that 
Stump and his servant man were committed to the jail of Cum- 
berland. 

Two days after, an armed party of Stump's friends from 
Sherman's valley came to Carlisle, and being joined by some 
others, amounting to about seventy, at an early hour in the 
day, approached the jail with arms, having sent a few with- 
out arms before them, who were admitted within the door 



* Col. Rec, Vol. 9, p. 416. 



86 

of the jail. Col. Armstrong, with some other magistrates and 
citizens, on the first alarm, repaired to the jail, and there ex- 
postulated with the rioters and commanded them to desist from 
their unlawful purpose of rescuing the prisoners. Whilst Jus- 
tice Armstrong was striving to disperse them, the rioters dis- 
regarded the magistrates, and repelled them with indignities 
and violence, and by numbers and arms effected the rescue of 
Stump and Ironsetter, whom they carried off in the direction 
of the mountains.* Carlisle was then but a small village, with 
a population too few to repel, or arrest the armed rioters, whose 
lawless act at the jail was a surprise, and occupied but a few 
minutes. The rioters were immediately pursued by Col. Arm- 
strong, the Sheriff, Rev. Mr. Steele, and others, who hoped to 
be able to induce them to return the prisoners, but did not 
overtake them. The rioters, apprehensive of pursuit, hasten- 
ed across the mountain to Sherman's valley. The magis- 
trates, in person, with the sheriff, proceeded in a day or two 
after, into Sherman's valley, in search of the prisoners and their 
party, but without success. Stump had fled, it was said, to 
Lancaster county, where his relatives resided, having his Ger- 
man servant with him. From that, it was believed, they made 
their escape into Virginia, and of them no further intelligence 
was heard, though the Governor of Pennsylvania offered a re- 
ward of £200 for the apprehension of Stump and <£100 for the 
apprehension of Ironsetter. 

Gov. Penn, in his letter to Col. Armstrong, dated 3rd Feb., 
1768, reproves the magistrates of Cumberland county, for their 
" insolence, who had taken upon them to suggest, or even to 
suppose, that the government or judges intended to do so ille- 
gal an act, as to try the prisoners in any other county or place 
than where the fact was committed," and that he was to be 
removed to the city only for examination.^ The magistrates 
and inhabitants of Cumberland county, were excusable, for not 
comprehending why these criminals were to be conveyed to the 
city of Philadelphia, with a guard and at the risk of escape or 
rescue, for the mere purpose of examination, to be reconveyed 

• Col. Eec, Vol. 9, 450-462-4G4-484. 
t Col. Rec, Vol. 9, 446. 



87 

to Carlisle for trial, when the crime of murder, with which they 
were charged, was admitted by them, on which they were 
committed to the county prison at Carlisle, by the magistrates of 
Cumberland, having authority, where they were in confine- 
ment and in irons, to await their trial. 

In a communication from Col. Armstrong to the Governor, 
of 7th Feb., 1768, he says: "I assure you, after the closest 
examination I have been able to make, even the ignorant and 
giddy crowd who have committed this hasty, flagrant violation 
of the established course of justice, have done it under the 
mistaken apprehension of the intention of carrying Stump to 
Philadelphia."* Though the feeling of the mass of the peo- 
ple was indignation towards these barbarous murderers, yet 
they were not satisfied that a precedent should be established 
in a case so criminal, that might be used again to the prejudice 
of others, unjustly accused. The friends of Stump, who were 
desirous of his escape, took advantage of the general feeling in 
the county, against the illegality of the removal of the prison- 
ers, and with the assistance of some of these persons, were suc- 
cessful in effecting the rescue of Stump. Their offence was a 
great one against public justice, to be reprobated by every 
good citizen. Such offences, if allowed to pass without signal 
punishment, impair the structure of government and endanger 
the security and safety of the community, and lessen the re- 
spect for the public authorities and law, in substituting anar- 
chy and violence for law and peace. It was a great reflection 
on the magistrates of Cumberland county, and its inhabitants, 
that these two savage white men should have been allowed to 
escape the severest penalty of the law, which they deserved. 

This riotous act is not to be imputed to any one national 
class or religious denomination. It was made up of persons 
professing to belong to several. Justices Armstrong, R. Miller, 
W. Lyon, Rev. Mr. Steele, and others, who were active and reso- 
lute in opposing the rioters, as well as pursuing them and the 
prisoners, were of Irish nativity, and belonged to the Presby- 
terian Church. Though Stump and Ironsetter were Germans 

* Col. Eec, Vol. 9, 462. 



and may have been assisted in their rescue and escape, by some 
of their German relatives; it would be unjust and illiberal, to 
reproach the German population of Cumberland or Lancaster 
counties, for the crimes of these reckless individuals. 

The Kittochtinny valley, east and west of the Susquehanna, 
being, during the Indian wars, the frontier of the Province of 
Pennsylvania, was harassed for eight years and more, with 
all the ravages and cruelties of savage warfare. The defence 
of it was cast almost entirely on the inhabitants, by the remiss- 
ness of the Royal and Provincial governments, to provide for 
the public defence ; men ^'ould organize themselves into milita- 
ry companies, under the command of some selected leader. 
Amongst the first companies organized on west Conococheague, 
on the bloody outbreak by the Delaware Indians, in 1755, was 
one, which selected for its captain, the Rev. John Steele, their 
Presbyterian pastor. This command was accepted by Mr. 
Steele, and executed with so much skill, bravery and judg- 
ment, as to commend him to the Provincial government, which 
appointed him a Captain of the Provincial troops. This ap- 
pointment he retained for many years, to the benefit of the 
public service and the satisfaction of the government. He was 
reputed a sound divine, of piety and learning, and did not re- 
linquish the ministry for arms. Such was the state of the 
country, that he often exercised his ministry with his gun at his 
side, addressing his congregation, the men of which, had their 
weapons within their reach. 

One of the most efficient men of that day, in the Cumber- 
land valley, was Col. John Armstrong of Carlisle, of Irish na- 
tivity, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was a 
man of intelligence, of integrity and of high religious and moral 
character. He was resolute and brave, and though living habit- 
ually in the fear of the Lord, he feared not the face of man. 

Dr. Hugh Mercer, a Scotchman, of talent and education, 
bad taken up his residence in the southern part of this valley, 
near the Maryland line, a short time before Braddock's de- 
feat. Having enjoyed some military training and experience 
in Europe, and having a taste for military life, he was early in 
1756, appointed a Captain in the Provincial service, in which 



he was continued for some years, being promoted to the rank 
of Colonel. 

Col. Armstrong and Col. Mercer were, in 1776, appointed 
by the American Congress, Generals of its Revolutionary Ar- 
my, on the recommendation of Washington, who had served 
with them in Forbes' campaign in 1758, and knew their quali- 
fications. Col. Armstrong served his country with ability and 
fidelity in the trying struggle for American Independence. 
General Mercer, highly esteemed by Washington, and having 
the confidence of the army and the country, fell, mortally 
wounded and mangled, by the British soldiery, at the battle of 
Princeton, in January, 1777, whilst gallantly and bravely 
leading his division against the royal army. 

There might be named many other oflBcers, who rendered 
signal services, as commanders of Provincial troops, or of 
rangers, in the Kittochtinny valley, during the Indian wars, 
exposing their health and lives in defence of their country and 
friends. 

The expedition organized by Col. Armstrong, in this valley, 
in 1756, for an attack on the Indian town and fortress at Kit- 
taning, west of the mountains, was conducted, through a moun- 
tainous country in the possession of the enemy, with a skill, 
judgment, celerity, bravery, hardihood and success, not sur- 
passed by any armament, or other military expedition of the 
Colonies. The corporation of Philadelphia, on this victory, 
addressed a complimentary letter to Colonel Armstrong, 
thanking him and his ofiicers, for their gallant conduct, and 
presented to him a piece of plate, and a medal, struck for the 
occasion, with a suitable device. 

During these wars, more than half of the inhabitants of the 
Cumberland valley sought safety for themselves and families 
in the eastern parts of York and Lancaster counties. Pastors 
could no longer assemble their congregations for worship, with- 
out great peril, and for security, they accompanied their friends 
to the older settlements. Even the schools had to be discon- 
tinued ; for the master and scholars of a school in the very 
heart of the Conococheague settlement, were barbarously mur- 
dered by a party of Indians, wbo had penetrated the valley 



90 

without discovery, and when their hostilities were not appre- 
hended. A classical school had been established by Mr. John 
King, (afterwards the Rev. Dr. King) in the year 1761, in the 
Conococheague settlement, which was continued for some 
years, until the incursions of the savages made it unsafe. 

In and after 1765, the inhabitants, who had fled, returned 
with their familes to the valley, resumed their desolate and 
dilapidated farms ; applied themselves with renewed industry 
and perseverance, to re-build dwellings, prepare their fields for 
a crop of grain, and replenish their furniture and stock of cat- 
tle and farm implements, as fast as resources and opportuni- 
ties would allow. Congregations were assembled for worship, 
as in the preceding times of peace, and in 1767-69, pastors 
were again called to, and installed over the several Presbyte- 
rian congregations in the valley, vacated by the wars and rav- 
ages of a barbarous enemy. Several of these. Dr. Cooper., 
Dr. King, and Dr. Duffield, were men eminent for learning, 
piety, and usefulness in the Presbyterian Church. 

The settlement progressed rapidly in population and im- 
provement. The only public grievances commanding atten- 
tion, for some years, were political ones, common to the inhab- 
itants of this Province and of the other colonies, who, in pub- 
lic and private, discussed the relations between the colonies 
and parent State, involving the constitutional and chartered 
rights of American freemen. The Irish and Scotch emigrants, 
who had removed from the mother country and friends, to cross 
the ocean for a wilderness, were not subjects for passive obe- 
dience ; or willing to surrender their rights or liberties to the 
exactions of either King or Parliament. 



91 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Scotch Irish opposition to British taxation — Kiitoch- 
tinny or Cumberland valley, in favor of American Inde- 
pendence Resolutions — Military organizations — Early 

' expression of public sentiment in favor of separation from 
Great Britain — Participation in maintenance of Indepen- 
dence — Prompt action to form an army — Congress o/1776 
— Irish and Scotch members from Pennsylvania — Abilities — 
Influence and measures — After war, inhabitants of Cum- 
berland county resumedtheir labors on their farms — Regard 
for Education — Dickinson College. 

When the wrath of the Royal government was poured out on 
the colony of Massachusetts, and the port of Boston closed, 
there was no class in any of the colonies, with whom there 
was greater sympathy, for the oppressed of New England, or 
who were more indignant against the tyrannical measures of 
the Royal government, than with the Irish and Scotch inhabi- 
tants of Pennsylvania, and their immediate descendants. 

At a meeting of the freeholders and freemen of Cumberland 
county, held at Carlisle on the 12th of July, 1774, John Mont- 
gomery, Esq., of Irish nativity, in the Chair, resolutions were 
adopted in coademnation of the act of Parliament closing the 
port of Boston, and recommending vigorous and prudent mea- 
sures to obtain a redress of grievances. They recommended 
a general Congress of deputies from all the colonies — the non- 
importation of any merchandize from Great Britain, or de- 
pendencies, and piomised contributions to the relief of their 
suffering brethren in Boston. At this meeting, deputies were 
appointed to meet, immediataly, others from other counties 
of the Province, at Philadelphia, to concert measures prepara- 
tory to the general Congress. Their deputies were James 
Wilson, of Scotch nativity, a member of the Congress of 1776, 



92 

a signer of the Declaration of Independence ; and after the or- 
ganization of the Federal government, a Judge of the Supreme 
Court of the United States, — William Irv/in and Robert Magaw, 
of Irish origin, the first of whom, was a General, and the lat- 
ter, a Colonel, in the army of the Revolution, from Pennsyl- 
vania. 

The blood of American freeman was first shed at Lexinsr- 
ton by British soldiery, under the command of their Royal 
officers, on the 19th April 1775, and proclaimed, that the arbi- 
trary acts of parliament and the tyrannical measures of the min- 
istry, were to be enforced by arras. The intelligence in Penn- 
sylvania was received with a blaze of indignation. Though 
war news, in those days, were only transmitted with the speed 
of the post horse, and there were only six or eight nevrspapers 
published in the Province, yet the tocsin of alarm soon exten- 
ded through its towns, villages, hills and valleys. At Phila- 
delphia, on the 24th of April, its citizens assembled in thou- 
sands, resolved to form military associations for the protection 
of their property, liberties and lives. The like associations 
were immediately formed in the adjoining counties. In the 
distant county of Cumberland, the war cry was no sooner 
sounded, than its freemen rallied in thousands, for military as- 
sociation and organization, in defence of their rights. The 
American archives preserve a letter from Carlisle, written on 
6th May, 1775, in which it is ctated : "Yesterday the County 
committee met from nineteen townships, on the short notice 
they had. Above three thousand men have already associated, 
the arms returned amounted to about fifteen hundred. The 
committee have voted five hundred effective men, besides com- 
missioned officers, to be immediately drafted, taken into pay, 
armed and disciplined to march on the first emergency, to be 
paid and supported as long as necessary, by a tax on all es- 
tates, real and personal, in the county."* This was not vapor 
on the part of the men of Cumberland valley. They were sin- 
cere and in earnest in their associations, and inflexible in pur- 
pose, as a short time evinced. The memorable engagement 



* Amer. Arch., Vol. 2, 516. 



93 

at Breed's and Bunker's Hill, on the 17th of June, 1775, arous- 
ed the colonists to increased activity. It proved that untrain- 
ed militia could contend successfully -with trained and disci- 
plined veterans; and whilst it astounded British commanders, it 
increased the confidence of the Ameiican patriot, in the safe- 
ty of his liberty and rights. The sword was drawn by both 
contending parties, and their measures were for battle: nego- 
tiation and concession were no longer to be allowed to subjects, 
by a haughty and tyrannical government. The controversy was 
to be settled by the last resort of nations — arms. The colonists 
saw before them a protracted war, with all its calamities, be- 
tween which, and abject submission, they had no alternative. 
They chose the former, regardless of its cost and sacrifices. 
The Royal commanders, with their ministerial rulers, anticipa- 
ted but a single campaign, in which their trained and well pro- 
vided army was to march Avhere it pleased to subdue and pun- 
ish the flying rebels. 

The public service and defence of the country, demanded 
from the colonies, an army adequate to the emergency. Con- 
gress, in May, 1775, in apportioning that army, required from 
Pennsylvania four thousand three hundred men. The appoint- 
ment of Washington, by the unanimous vote of the Conti- 
nental Congress, as Commander in Chief of their army, was 
in itself, a tower of strength to the colonists. 

The military spirit and ardor of the freemen of Pennsylvania, 
were not abated, by the prospect of immediate service in the 
American army, in a distant colony. 

The call for a military force was responded to from the city 
of Philadelphia, and the inland counties, with great alacrity, 
and by immediate measures of organization and preparation. 
The freemen of this Province did not wait for forced draughts ; 
companies of volunteers were immediately organized, to be 
commanded by officers of their own choice. From the Cum- 
berland valley, in the summer of 1775, companies, under the 
command of officers of their choice, obeyed from inclination 
and respect, marched to join the army under the command of 
Washington, in the seige of Boston. One of these companies 
was from Chambersburg, under the command of James Cham- 



9^ 

bers, as Captain, which marclied in June, 1775, and join- 
ed the army at Boston, in August, 1775, under the com- 
mand of Washington. James Chambers being in a short 
time advanced to the rank of a Colonel of the regular army, 
remained in the military service of the country till the close 
of the Revolutionary -war. 

Other companies -were from west Conococheague, Shippens- 
burg, Carlisle and the eastern part of the county. These were 
made up of n^any hardy and efficient men, the heads of families, 
respectable and substantial freeholders. They were without ac- 
quaintance with the discipline of European armies, and with- 
out military dress, or accoutrements. They were all familiar 
with the use of fire arms, and some had experience in the frontier 
wars against the French and Indians. They were the men for 
the times, inured to toil and exposure ; stout and athletic. 
They were soldiers, who could march, when an emergency re- 
quired, without tents or baggage wagons, carrying their 
equipments in their knapsacks. With a blanket they could 
sleep on the bare earth, with the open air for their apartment, 
and the firmament for their covering. The campaign of these 
men Avas not a mere parade, or a summer excursion, to see the 
enemy and return to their homes. An extended service was 
before them, not to be mistaken, and many of these men are 
known to have remained from that time, in the military ser- 
vice of their country for years, and some of them until Indepen- 
dence was acknowledged and the army disbanded ; having only 
at distant intervals, made a short visit to their families when 
the public service would allow. Some others had, in other col- 
onies, a soldier's burial and grave. 

Notwithstanding the bloody contest with arms, in which the 
colonists were now engaged, in defence of their lives, liberties, 
and properties, against the armies of the Royal government, 
there was still manifested universally a repugnance to dissolve 
the connection between the colonists and the parent State. 
The Assembly of Pennsylvania, in the appointment of dele- 
gates, in November, 1775, to represent the Province in Con- 
gress, expressly instructed them, " that you, in behalf of this 
colony, dissent from and utterly reject, any propositions, should 



95 

such be made, that may cause, or lead to a separation from 
our mother country, or a change of the form of this govern- 
ment."* 

The progress of the war and the oppressive exactions of the 
British government, after a few months unsettled public opin- 
ion on this question, and the necessity and policy of indepen- 
dence, became a debatable question with the colonists, in their 
social meetings. At this time there was no newspaper publish- 
ed in Pennsylvania, we believe, west of York. The freemen 
of the county of Cumberland, in this Province, were amongst 
the first to form the opinion, that the safety and welfare of the 
colonies, did render separation, from the mother country, ne- 
cessary. The first public expression of that sentiment, and its 
embodiment in a memorial, emanated from the freemen and 
inhabitants of that county, to the Assembly of the Province, 
and is amongst the national archives. f It is an able, temper- 
ate, patriotic expression of the considerations that induced 
them to petition the Assembly, " that the last instructions 
which it gave to the delegates of this Province in Congress,- 
wherein they are enjoined not to consent to any step which 
may cause or lead to a separation from Great Britain, mai/ be 
withdrawn." This memorial was presented to the Assembly 
on the 28th of May, 1776, and on the 5th of June, after a de- 
bate of considerable length, was referred, by a large majority, 
to a committee, to bring in new instructions to the delegates of 
this Province in Congress. J Instructions, in conformity to the 
memorial of the Province of Cumberland, were reported, adopt- 
ed, and signed by the Speaker, June 14th, wherein it is stated:;' 
" The situation of public affairs is since (their instructions of 
November) so greatly altered, that we now think ourselves 
justifiable in removing the restrictions laid upon you by those 
instructions."§ TJie memorial from Cumberland county bears 
evidence that the inhabitants of that county were in advance 
of their representatives m the Assembly, and in Congress, on 
the subject of Independence. The considerations suggested 
by them, had their influence on the Assembly, who adopted the 



* Amer. Arch. Vol. 3,1408. f Amer. Arch., 4th series, V©1. 6, 850-1. 
X lb. 858. I lb. 862. 



96 

|>etition of the memorialists, and withdrew the instructions 
that had been given to the delegates in Congress, in opposi- 
tion to Independence. As the Cumberland memorial was pre- 
sented to the Assembly on the 23rd of May, 1776, it probably 
had occupied the attention and consideration of the inhabitants 
of the Cumberland valley, early in that month. As there was 
no remonstrance from this district, by any dissatisfied with the 
purposes of the memorial, we are to suppose, that it expressed 
the public sentiment of that large, respectable, and influential 
district of the Province, which had then many ofiicers and 
men in the ranks of the Continental army. 

Kesolutions, in favor of Independence, were adopted by the 
citizens of Mecklenberg county, North Carolina, on the 20th 
of May, 1775. But the feeling there, at that time, was by no 
means general ; and counter combinations were also entered 
into for sustaining the royal authority. 

The Virginia convention, on the 15th of May, 1776, instruct- 
ed the Virginia delegates in Congress, to propose to that body 
a Declaration of Independence. In obedience to this, Richard 
H. Lee, of Virginia, submitted to Congress, on the 7th of June, 
the resolution, " That the United Colonies, are, and ought to 
be, free and independent States, and that their political con- 
nection with Great Britain, is, and ought to be, dissolved."* 
This resolution, after much debate, was passed, on the 8th, by 
a bare majority, seven States to six, the delegates of Pennsyl- 
vania, New Jersey and Maryland, being expressly instructed 
against it. The subject was postponed till the first of July, 
and a committee appointed to prepare a formal declaration of 
independence. The outside influence of the freemen, as well 
as of other public assemblies, in Pennsylvania, were in favor of 
independence. The Provincial Conference of Pennsylvania 
assembled at Philadelphia, of which Thomas McKean was Pres- 
ident, unanimously, on the 24th of June, declared " their wil- 
lingness to concur in a vote of the Congress, declaring the 
United Colonies free and independent States," which was sign- 
ed and presented to Congress.f The sense of the military in 



* Hild. U. S., Vol. 3, 74. f Am. Arch., Vol. 6, 962. 



97 

the rank, from Pennsylvania, then in the neighborhood of 
Philadelphia, were taken by their commanders, on this momen- 
tous question. When the question was submitted to Col. Mc- 
Kean's battalion of four hundred, on the 10th of June, it was 
carried unanimously in the affirmative, and their approbation 
manifested by three huzzas. In other battalions, at the same time, 
resolutions were adopted unanimously, disapproving of the in- 
structions of the Assembly of Pennsylvania to the delegates in 
Congress, restricting them in their action. The Assembly of 
Pennsylvania, as before stated, yielding to the expression of 
public sentiment, by the freemen of Cumberland valley, as well 
as by the Pennsylvania forces, in the army, who were staking 
their lives on the issue, with arms in their hands, on the side 
of independence, on the 14th of June rescinded their instruc- 
tions to the delegates in Congress, who were at liberty to vote 
on the question of independence, untrammelled by the instruc- 
tions of November. 

The committee having reported, a formal Declaration of In- 
dependence, which, with the resolution on the subject, was 
brought up in Congress on the 1st of July ; the majority of 
the Pennsylvania delegates, remained inflexible in their unwil- 
lingness to vote for the measure, at the head of which opposi- 
tion was the distinguished patriot, John Dickinson, who op- 
posed the measure, not as bad, or uncalled for, but as prema- 
ture. But when, on the 4th of July, the subject came up for 
final action, two of the Pennsylvania delegates, Dickinson and 
Morris, who had voted in the negative, absented themselves, 
and the vote of Pennsylvania was carried by the votes of 
Franklin,* Wilson and Morton, against the votes of Willing 

• " Franklin had been made to feel, in the city of Philadelphia, in 1764, 
the uncertainty of popular favor, and the power of party prejudice, by a de- 
feat in his election to the Assembly, after having been chosen for fourteen 
years successively. This was an empty triumph to his opponents, as the As- 
sembly who convened, by a large majority, appointed him special agent to the 
Court of Great Britain, to carry out the purpose of a change of Provincial 
government and to manage the general affairs of the Province. John Dick- 
inson, who opposed this appointment, and inveighed strenuously against the 
political principles and conduct of Franklin, eulogized him as a man. The 
power of party and prejudice separated, for a time, these two statesmen and 
patriots, and distoi ted truth and perverted judgment. Franklin was more 
than restored to public confidence. He was the advocate and signer of the 
Declaration of Independence, and amongst those who refused to affix his 

7 



and Humphreys. The men who voted in opposition to this 
measure, were esteemed honest and patriotic men, but were too 
timid for the crisis. They faltered and shrunk from responsi- 
bility and danger, when they should have been firm and brave. 
The convention of Pennsylvania at once recalled its quaking 
delegates, and elected in their places, Colonels George Ross, 
James Smith, Dr. Benjamin Rush, George Clymer and 
George Taylor. Though the Declaration of Independence was 
adopted on the 4th of July, it was not signed until the 2nd of 
August, 1776, when the new delegates from Pennsylvania were 
present, and affixed their names to it. The convention select- 
ed the majority of the new delegates from the interior of the 
Province : Col. Ross, from Lancaster, Col. Smith, from York, 
and George Taylor, from Northampton, James Wilson, being 
then from Cumberland. Mr. Wilson, as has been stated, was 
of Scotch nativity, whilst Col. Smith and Mr. Taylor were 
Irishmen, all of whom had long been in the Province and iden- 
tified with its best interests, and were ready to jeopard all 
that was dear to them, in defence of the liberties and indepen- 
nence of their adopted country. Amongst the other signers 
of the Declaration of Independence, were a number of Scotch 
or Irish nativity, or their immediate descendants. 

The spirit of the Presbyterian ministers, on the side of 
American Independence, was exemplified by the Rev. John 
Witherspoon, D. D., and LL. D., President of Princeton Col- 
lege, of Scotch nativity and education, and eminent for talents, 
learning and eloquence. He was a member of Congress when 
the Declaration of Independence was reported, and was 
before the House for the signature of its members. Some 
seemed to waver, and deep and solemn silence reigned through- 
out the Hall. This venerable man, casting on the assembly a 
look of inexpressible interest, and unconquerable determina- 
tion, remarked : " That noble instrument on your table, which 
insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this 



name to this instrument, was the virtuous, patriotic, able, but irresolute 
John Dickinson. This want of firmness, at this crisis, turned the tide of pub- 
lic sentiment, for a time, against him, whilst Franklin was elevated to the 
highest place in public estimation. " 



99 

very morning by every pen in the House. He, who will not 
respond to its accents, and strain every nerve to carry into 
effect its provisions, is unworthy the name of a freeman. Al- 
though these gray hairs must descend into the sepulchre, I 
would infinitely rather they should descend thither by the 
hand of the public executioner, than desert at this crisis, the 
sacred cause of my country. The patriarch sat down, and 
fortliwith the Declaration was signed by every member pres- 
ent." [Rev. S. S. Templeton.] 

By the Declaration of Independence, the Rubicon was pass- 
ed. There was no way of honorable retreat, or door open for 
safe reconciliation. The prospect before the American free- 
men was a struggle that was awfully fearful. The contest was 
one of liberty and life, against death or subjection. There 
were no half way measures. It was for every American to 
choose which side he would take, whether on the side of Amer- 
ican liberty and independence, or that of a royal and despotic 
master. Some faltered, were undecided and watched to know 
the end of the terrible beginning. Others, who had been bask- 
ing in royal favor, or whose associations had been with men 
in high places, joined the enemy, and were proclaimed traitors 
under a load of infam}^, they could never remove from their 
characters. 

Men and arms were nov/ required to fill up and strengthen 
the American army, which was sadly reduced, and was both 
imperfectly equipped and scantily provided. To supply the 
deficiency. Congress, whilst Independence was in agitation be- 
fore them, called for, from Pennsylvania, Delaware and Mary- 
land ten thousand men, of which Pennsylvania was to furnish 
six thousand, to constitute a flying camp for the protection of 
New Jersey. At the same time, a requisition of near fourteen 
thousand more were required from New England, New York, 
and New Jersey, for the general defence. 

The spirit in Pennsylvania that induced the Declaration of 
Independence ,was no less vigorous after that responsible act. 
It did not evaporate in memorials, resolutions or speeches, but 
buckled on its armor to meet the enemies of the country. 
From the eastern and interior portions of the Province, the 



100 

requisition of Congress was promptly mot, by their men in 
arms, in companies, battalions and regiments. The Scotch 
Irish settlements ■\vere at once thinned of their brave, hardy and 
patriotic freemen. To notice their divisions, commanders and 
numbers, would extend too much our remarks for this article. 
The Cumberland valley, though more remote, and not free 
from Indian alarm, occasioned by sayage incursions, through 
the "western mountains, into the adjoining county of Bedford, 
then having but a small and sparse population, with an alac- 
rity to be admired, furnished its volunteers, in companies, 
under the command of ofEcers of their choice, ready to obey 
the commands of their country, in whatever battle field, or post 
of danger to which they might be called. In a letter from the 
committee of Cumberland county to the President of Congress, 
dated at Carlisle, July 14th, 1776, it is stated : " By the intel- 
ligence we have already received, we think ourselves warrant- 
ed to say, that we shall be able to send five companies, viz : one 
from each battalion, to compose part of the flying camp, pro- 
vided so many good arms can be had, and three companies of 
militia for the present emergency, some of whom will march 
this week. With pleasure, we assure you, that a noble spirit 
appears amongst the inhabitants here. The spirit of marching 
to the defence of our country, is so prevalent in this town, that 
we shall not have men left sufficient to mount guard, which we 
think absolutely necessary for the safety of the inhabitants 
and ammunition, and as a watch over the ten English officers, 
with their ten servants, to keep their patrol of honor, especial- 
ly as their brethren, lately, at Lebanon, in Lancaster county, 
lost it ; and as there will not be more left in town for the above 
purpose, we shall be obliged to hire a guard of twelve men 
from the county."* 

In a letter, from the same committee, to Congress, dated at 
Carlisle, July 31st, 1776, it is said: "The inhabitants have 
voluntarily and very generally offered their services, and by 
the answers which we have received from the officers, it appears 
to us that eleven companies will be sufficiently armed and ac- 



* Amer. Arch,, 5 Ser., 1 Vol., p. 328. 



101 

coutred, and the last of them marched from this place in about 
a week from this time. Three companies more are preparing 
if they can get arms, and many more declare themselves wil- 
ling to march ; but we are well assured, arms are not to be got 
in this county. If arms and accoutrements are to be had at 
Philadelphia, we can send more men."* 

In a letter, from the same committee, to Congress, from 
Carlisle, dated August 16th, 1776, it is stated, that " The 
twelfth company of our militia are marched to day, which 
companies contain, in the whole, eight hundred and thirty- 
three -privates, with officers, nearly nine hundred men. Six 
companies more are collecting arms, and are preparing to 
march. "f | 

At the time these volunteers, from the Cumberland valley, 
were pressing forward, in surprising numbers, it is to be re- 
collected, that from this district, there were then in the Conti- 
nental army a number of officers, as well as rank and file, who, 
the year preceding, had entered the army, and were still ab- 
sent. in the military service of their country. 

Was there anywhere, in the colonies, more patriotism, reso- 
lution, and bravery, that was thus evinced, on a call to arms, 
than by the hardy, intelligent citizen soldiers of this Scotch 
Irish settlement. Their territory and dwellings were in no 
danger of invasion, or of being trodden by an hostile army. 
Distance, intervening forests, rugged roads and large water 
courses, were obstacles not to be encountered by an enemy, 
who were dependent on their shipsyior their supplies, and their 
safe retreat, in case of reverses. / 

The freemen of this extensive^Valley, did not, at this crisis, 
hold back their movements, either in time, or numbers, for 
forced requisitions; in retaliation, for the indifference manifest- 
ed by the citizens of the eastern border of the Province of 



* Araer. Arcli., 5th Ser., 1 Vol., 619. f lb., 994. 

J The companies marching from Cumberland county, in August, 1776, 
were commanded by Captains John Steel, Samuel Postlethwaite, Andrew 
Galbreath, Samuel McCune, Thomas Turbott, James McCounel, William 
Huston, Thomas Clark, John Hutton, Robert Culbertson, Cbarles Lecher, Con- 
rad Schnider, Lieut. Col. Frederick AVatts ; other Captains were preparin g 
to march. Amer. Arch,, 5th Series, 1 Vol., page 619, 



102 

Pennsylvanin, for sufferings, and privations of the inhabitants 
of their valley, "when, for years, they were exposed to the mer- 
ciless cruelties of savage enemies, aided and instigated by 
French power ; though they could not forget, that their re- 
peated supplications to the Provincial government, for measures 
of defence and protection, during the Indian wars, that were 
laying waste their settlements, with fire and the blood of wo- 
men and children, were either disregarded, or met by tardy and 
inefficient provision, by a government, whose legislation was 
under the control then, of the representatives of Philadelphia, 
Chester and Bucks. The brave and hardy men of the Cum- 
berland valley, who had, for ten years, been exercising their 
strength and vigor to repair the waste and desolation of their 
homes and property, from which many had been driven ; and 
for years, compelled to seek for their families, safety in the 
counties of Lancaster and York, did not allow themselves to 
think of resentment or retaliation, when the enemy of their 
country was menacing their State. These patriotic men were 
too magnanimous and generous, in the hour of danger, and 
public necessity, to speak, or think of old wrongs, committed 
against them, by their fellow citizens, or their late government. 
But a few days were required to arrange their afl'airs, collect 
their arms and plain accoutrements, when they marched forth, 
with drawn swords, and shouldered arms, to meet the public 
enemy, wherever commanded, either on Pennsylvania soil, on 
the plains of New Jersy, or elsewhere. 

The Presbyterian element, was still not only the predomi- 
nant, but almost the universal one, in this valley. Its in- 
fluence, at this juncture, was pervading and powerful in behalf 
of the liberties and independence of the country. The ten- 
dencies of the Presbyterian influence, was to a Republican 
government, to which, in its organization of ministerial parity 
and workings, it was most analogous. This was manifested 
by the early movements of Presbyterian communities in Penn- 
sylvania, Virginia and North Carolina, advocating indepen- 
dence by the American colonies of the British government, and 
ihe declaration of that independence. It was also manifested 
by the prompt, zealous, active, and praiseworthy cooperation 



103 

of Presbyterians, by their voluntary enrollment to form and 
maintain, the army of the Revolution and the independence of 
the colonies. 

The company in the lead, in July, 1776, from Carlisle, was 
that under the command of the Rev. Capt. John Steele, the 
pastor of the Presbyterian congregation, worshipping in or near 
Carlisle. We have before noticed Mr. Steele, as pastor of 
the Presbyterian church on west Conococheague, in the same 
county, during the Indian wars that followed Braddock's de- 
feat. Having received there, the appointment of Provincial 
Captain, he officiated as the Captain of a company of rangers, 
as well as Pastor of a congregation, to whom he preached until 
they were dispersed by the savages and driven into exile. In 
these wars he had acquired military training and experience, 
which were now at the service of his country against the army 
of his late, but now rejected royal master. 

The spirit manifested in this valley, by its many volunteers, 
had been fostered, by the Presbyterian clei^gymen of the con- 
gregations, throughout its extent. Whilst they addressed the 
people, as sinners and fallen men, on their duties as Christians, 
they made eloquent appeals to their feelings, as citizens, in be- 
half of the liberties and independence of American freemen. 

In rousing the spirit of patriotism and resistance, there was 
no Presbyterian clergyman more active and influential, than 
the Rev. John King, then pastor on west Conococheague. 
Many of his addresses and discourses, during the exciting 
times of the Revolution, were in writing, and are preserved ; 
extended extracts from some of them, are given in the 
" Churches of the Valley," by the Rev. Alfred Nevin, 
which are creditable to Dr. King, as a Christian minister and 
American patriot. His sincerity and zeal were attested by 
his going with his church-members, as their chaplain, to the 
scat of war. 

Dr. King was born in Lancaster county, at Chesnut Level, 
in 1740. His father, Robert King, who resided there, was an 
emigrant from Ireland, and a minister in the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. John King commenced his classical studies un- 



104 

der Mr. Smith, and also at Newark Academy. He establislied, 
about 1760, a classical school in the Cumberland valley, on 
west Conococheague, which he pursued, to the education of 
young men, for three years, until the Indian ravages and mur- 
ders in the settlements disbanded his school. His sister waa 
killed there by the savages. Mr. King, after being compelled 
to leave the Conococheague settlement, on account of the In- 
dian wars, and the flight of the inhabitants, returned eastward, 
and after a short time, entered Philadelphia College, then un- 
der the care of Drs. William Smith, and Francis Allison. 
Whilst prosecuting his studies in the College, he, at the same 
time, taught one of the higher classes in the Academy, which 
was connected with it. He graduated in 1766, and was li- 
censed to preach in 1767. In 1792, Dickinson College con- 
ferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He had good 
talents, which were diligently cultivated. Beside being a good 
Latin and Greek scholar, he had made himself well acquainted 
with the Hebrew and French. The natural and exact scien- 
ces had received a good deal of his attention, whilst he was 
well acquainted with theology and ecclesiastical history. His 
reputation for ability and learning, with an extensive library, 
attracted to him young men, whom he received into his family, 
for the prosecution of their theological studies, preparatory to 
the ministry. Amongst these were tlte-Bi^^^ Dav-id-filliott,- 
D.""D.,-trf Alleglieny Seminary,- and the late Rev. Matthew 
Brown, D. D., President of Jefferson College. Dr. King con- 
tinued in bis pastoral charge, from 1769 till 1811, when he 
resigned, on account of health and bodily infirmity, having 
been eminently useful and much beloved and respected. 

No less zealous, in the cause of Independence, was the Rev. 
John Craighead, pastor of the Presbyterian congregation at 
Rocky Spring, near Chambersburg, where he had been ordain- 
ed in 1768. " Though he did not fail to preach Jesus Christ, 
the only hope of salvation, it is said, after the delivery of 
this sacred message to fallen and sinful men, on one occasion, 
he exhorted, in eloquent and patriotic strains, the youth of the 
congregation, to rise up and join the noble band then engaged 
under Washington, in struggling to free our beloved country 



105 

from Britisli oppression. It is related that, upon another occa- 
sion, this patriotic preacher declaimed, from the pulpit, in such 
burning and powerful terms, against the •wrongs they were then 
suffering, that after one glowing description of the duty of the 
men, the whole congregation rose from their seats and declared 
their willingness to march to the conflict."* The members of 
his congregation did most heroically march, in July, 1776, and 
joined the American army under the command of Washing- 
ton, in New Jersey, and which he accompanied as chaplain; 
and with that company, was made prisoner, at Long Island, 
or Fort Washington. He remained the pastor of this congre- 
gation until 1799, the year of his death ; " having, by his fer- 
vent and eloquent ministry, been instrumental, under Provi- 
dence, in winning many souls, from darkness and sin to light 
and life, through a merciful Redeemer." 

The estimate put on patriotism, associated with religious 
character, by the Presbyterian Church, in the Revolutionary 
times, is attested in the life of the Rev. James Crawford, who, 
when a student, had been obliged to leave Princeton College, 
■without his Degree, owing to the interruption of the College 
exercises, by the British army, and being inclined to emigrate 
south, he carried with him, from his pastor, the Rev. John 
Craighead, whom, we suppose to have been the ardent whig 
of that name, referred to in 1777, a certificate of his church- 
membership, and who appended to it a representation, deemed es- 
sential to his credit, and to the hospitality, fellowship and friend- 
ship of the Presbyterian settlements, where this student of di> 
vinity might visit, and where he might be disposed to take up 
his abode. That addition, to the usual certificate, was in these 
words : " and also, he appears well affected to the cause of 
American liberty."f 

The Rev. Robert Cooper, D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian 
congregation at Middle Spring, near Shippensburg, was also 
an ardent whig, who encouraged the members of his congrega- 
tion to join with arms, the standard of their country. His 
congregation shared his spirit and resolution, and were part of 

* Churclies of the Valley, 1^5. | Davidson's His. Cb. of Ey., 80. 



106 

the force of volunteers that marched from Carlisle in August, 
177 G, accompanied by their brave, patriotic and pious min- 
ister. He returned to his pastoral chai'ge, where he continued 
to minister acceptably and usefully until 1797, when he resign- 
ed. "Dr. Cooper was esteemed a man of sound and strong 
mind, as well as a divine of great judiciousness and piety." 
He was one of the Committee appointed in 1785, by the Syn- 
ods of Philadelphia and New York, to revise the standards of 
the Church, which led to the adoption and establishment of the 
present plan. 

That a like patriotic spirit pervaded the Scotch Irish race, 
of this Presbyterian community, is evinced by the number of 
military companies, sixteen, that volunteered in July, 1776, to 
sustain, by their persons and lives, the Independence that was 
proclaimed. One of these companies from the neighborhood of 
Chambersburg, was made up of men of Irish and German na- 
tivity, and was commanded by Captain Conrad Schnider, of the 
German Reformed Church, having for his first Lieutenant, John 
Crawford, of Irish nativity and Presbyterian connection. 

This valley, with the small adjacent ones, known as Path 
and Sherman's valleys, continued, throughout the Revolution- 
ary struggle, to furnish, from time to time, reinforcements of 
men for the army, as the public exigencies required. In the 
Cumberland valley, almost every man able to carry arms and 
endure a soldier's life, had been in the military service of his 
country. Some performed more than one tour of service, 
whilst others remained in the army, under every exposure, trial, 
good and bad fortune, from the beginning of the war till the 
end of it, when Independence was acknowledged and peace 
proclaimed. 

These ready volunteers were farmers of substance, intelli- 
gence, and respectability ; many of them the heads of fami- 
lies, who were left behind. Some of the officers, as well as the 
men in the ranks, were ruling elders in the Presbyterian 
congregations with which they worshipped. Throughout this 
great valley, a Tory, a name applied, in Revolutionary times, 
to a person opposed to the war, and in favor of British claims, 
was rare, if to be found at all. Not to be zealous in the cause 



107 

of American Independence, was a reproach, that not only sub- 
jected the suspected individual to public disfavor, but in some 
instances, brought down upon him, the notice or discipline of 
the church. The writer of this, saw, many years since, 
amongst the papers of a deceased elder of the Presbyterian 
Church of Chambersburg, an ancient writing, purporting to be 
a charge preferred to the session of that church, against one 
of its members, that " he is strongly suspected of not being 
since?-e in his professions of attachment to the cause of the 
Revolution.'' Yv'hat action was had on this accusation, by the 
church court, did not appear, and the minutes of the church of 
that period, were not preserved by the church ofl&cers. It is 
supposed, that the member accused, exculpated himself from 
a charge, which, in that community, was not only disre- 
putable, but degrading. This suspected person, was well 
known to the writer, as a farmer in the neighborhood, who 
lived in good circumstances on his farm till his death, about 
1800, respected as a good and orderly citizen, leaving descen- 
dants of influence and distinction. 

In the notice by the Supreme Executive Council of Penn- 
sylvania, of April 12th 1779,* for the sale of the forfeited es- 
tates of persons attainted of Treason, embracing the names of 
numbers in Philadelphia, and some in several of the neighbor- 
ing counties, there was not one in the county of Cumberland. 
Amongst those at that time proclaimed as traitors, were Joseph 
Galloway and Andrew Allen, Esqs. Galloway had been 
Speaker of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and both had been 
members of the Congress of 1776, and opposed the Declara- 
tion of Independence. And also Jacob Duche, an Episcopal 
minister, of Philadelphia, who, on the nomination of Samuel 
Adams, a stiff Congregationalist, had been appointed chaplain 
to the first Continental Congress. When the British General, 
Howe, entered Philadelphia, 1778, " Duche was among the 
traitors that welcomed him into the possession of the Capitol 
of the State, and had the elFrontery of writing and sending a 
letter to Washington, advising him to give over the ungodly 
cause in which he was engaged.!" 

* Col. Rec. Vol. 9, p. 745. f Hild. His., 3, p. 221, 



108 

The eminent John Dickinson, who opposed in Congress, the 
Declaration of Independence, as premature ; yet, when it was 
adopted, and the public resentment had prostrated him, he had 
still a patriotism in his heart, that would neither allow him to 
go over with his colleagues, Galloway and Allen, to the enemy, 
or to remain neutral, but at the head of a regiment of which 
he was Colonel, he repaired at once to the aid of his country, 
as a part of the flying camp in New Jersey. 

The Cumberland valley furnished to military service, in the 
Revolutionary army, from its inhabitants, officers General 
Armstrong and Irwin, Colonels Magaw, Chambers, Watts, 
Blair, Smith, Wilson, Montgomery, Buchanan, and others, 
and Majors, Captains and subalterns, in numbers too great to 
be enumerated here ; whilst its soldiers, in the rank and file, were 
in number, little below the taxables of their district. 

The Scotch Irish settlers, with their immediate descendants, 
from the counties of Lancaster and York, in Pennsylvania, 
gave up to their country, in the Revolutionary conflict, their 
brave, vigorous, and patriotic men, who, in the camp and bat- 
tle field, were shoulder to shoulder with their Cumberland fel- 
low soldiers, to do and serve, as they were commanded. 

Officers and men, of this race, from the counties named, 
accompanied Arnold in the campaign for the invasion of Can- 
ada in 1775, which they prosecuted amid hardships, privations, 
toils and sufferings indescribable, through a trackless wilder- 
ness of several hundred miles ; and joined in the storming of 
Quebec, in which they were repulsed, by an overwhelming 
British force, under which, the brave and gallant General 
Montgomery, of Irish nativity, fell, mortally wounded, and 
many were made prisoners. 

Other volunteers, of the same race, from the same counties, 
overpowered by the superior force of the enemy at Fort Wash- 
ington, were there made prisoners, and endured for years, in 
and near New York, a captivity, that was oppressive and cruel 
to officers and privates, under which many were made victims. 

Others, of like national origin, from the same places, were 
with the army, under Washington, when it crossed the Del- 
aware, with its floating ice, in mid-winter, and darkness, in the 



109 

vicinity of their exulting and powerful enemy, and marched 
on the frozen earth, with bare and bleeding feet, to gain his 
rear, and surprised him by the capture of his Hessian mercena- 
ries, when he was reposing in the security, that the army of 
Washington had fled and was dispersed. 

Otheis, from the same Scotch Irish settlements, were in 
that desperate assault, under General Wayne, at Stony Point, 
an almost inaccessible height, defended by a garrison of six 
hundred men, and a strong battery of artillery, which were 
attacked at midnight, by brave American freemen, with un- 
loaded muskets and fixed bayonets, and who carried it without 
firing a single gun — taking five hundred and forty-three pris- 
oners — being one of the most brilliant exploits of the war. 

The same men were also, in numbers, in the battles of Bran- 
dywine, Germantown and Monmouth. There were, on a few 
occasions, trepidations and insubordination, amongst some por- 
tion of the Pennsylvania militia, when, without discipline or 
experience, they were brought suddenly to encounter the well 
trained, and well equipped forces of the enemy, that had been 
long inured to service, and the conflict of arms. 

General Armstrong, in a communication to the State Exec- 
utive, Dec, 1777,* whilst he complains of the conduct of some 
of the militia, of his State, says : " They judge ill of the uses 
of a body of men, who fix their character from a single action, 
and still worse, who brand the whole with the infamous con- 
duct of only a part, when others, of the same body, and on the 
same occasion, have fully evinced their bravery. Taken as a 
body, the militia have rendered that service, that neither the 
State nor the army, could have dispensed with. They have met 
and skirmished with the enemy, as early and as often as oth- 
ers, and, except the battle of Brandywine, of which, from their 
station, little fell in their way, have had a proportional share 
of success, hazard and loss of blood." 

It was not only a hard military service, in which the Scotch 
Irish of Pennsylvania, were efficient, and distinguished, during 
the Revolutionary war, but their men were of eminence and 



* Penn. Arch., Vol. 6, p. 100. 



110 

influence, in the Councils of the National, as well as of the 
State government, during these times, that called forth the 
talents, energies, abilities, braver j and patriotism of the coun- 
try. McKean, of Philadelphia, Wilson, of Cumberland, and 
Smith of York, could, as Colonels, be at the head of their reg- 
iments in the army, often to inspire and lead their men, as well as 
to expose themselves in their command against the enemy, and 
also sAve as the Representatives of their constituents in Con- 
gress. Their services in Congress were neither few nor small, 
and though without the peril of life and blood of the battle field, 
they were arduous, and of great responsibility. They were 
all working members, and as members of various committees, 
had committed to them the most important duties and trusts, 
for the public welfare, which were executed by them with a 
wisdom, intelligence, and judgment, that commended them to 
the Congress and the country. In November, 1776, Mr. 
Wilson and Mr. Smith, were both appointed, with Messrs. 
Chase, Clymer and Stockton, by Congress, an Executive Com- 
mittee, who were charged with full powers to carry on the 
ivliole business of the war ; " to devise and execute measures 
for effectually reinforcing General Washington, and obstruct- 
ing the progress of General Howe's army." This measure 
showed the unbounded confidence of Congress in the wisdom 
judgment, virtue and firmness of the Committee, for a delega- 
tion to them of the powers of Congress. Col. Smith, with part 
of the committee, visited the army and General Washington, 
and were " so impressed with the insuperable difficulties of their 
task, the importance of the crisis, and the abilities of the Com- 
mander in Chief, with whom alone, they were convinced, such 
powers could be advantageously placed." 

Col. McKean was the commander of a Regiment, a Delegate 
to Congress from Delaware, the President of Congress, and 
Chief Justice of the State of Pennsylvania, combining, at one 
time, all these offices. The papers emanating from the Con- 
gress of the Colonies and of the States, were distinguished for 
style, ability, moderation and firmness, as well as unexampled 
elevation and dignity of sentiment ; and evinced the talents and 
high character of the members of the body, as scholars and 



Ill 

statesmen. It was a high eulogium of the Congress of 1775,, 
when Lord Chatham declared, "that though he had studied 
and admired the free States of antiquity, the master spirits of 
the world, yet, for solidity of reasoning, force of sagacity and 
wisdom of conclusion, no body of men could stand in prefer- 
ence to this Congress." 

History records no instance of a political body, charged 
with more important public duties, and responsibilities, than 
the Congress of the American colonies. It had to organize 
in the midst of war and revolution, a new and untried govern- 
ment, for the union of thirteen separate colonies. It had to 
provide for the military and civil establishments of that gov^ 
ernment ; conduct war against one of the oldest and most 
powerful governments of the Old World ; regulate commerce ; 
create and collect revenue. It had to legislate, not only 
against the public enemy, but also against tories and traitors, 
within their fold. The men who discharged these trusts with 
wisdom, integrity, labor and devotion to their country, were 
men of no common energy, ability and purity. Our country 
was one of destiny for great purposes. Amongst the eminent 
public men of Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary war, as 
well as in the years preceding, of controversy with the mother 
country, in relation to Colonial rights, illegal taxation, and 
Parliamentary usurpation, there was no one more distinguish- 
ed for his civil and military services, and many virtues, than 
Joseph Reed, of the city of Philadelphia, whose active life, 
was one of untiring devotion to the best interests of Pennsyl- 
vania and the nation ; enjoying the public confidence and re- 
gard for ability, integrity and patriotism, to a degree only sur- 
passed by the Father of his country. He was the military 
secretary of Washington at Cambridge — Adjutant General of 
the Continental army — member of the Congress of the United 
States, and President of the Executive Council of the State of 
Pennsylvania.* Whilst a kind Providence raised up for the 

• President Reed, was of Irish descent, and had selected Philadelphia as 
his residence in the profession of the Law, with all the advantages of educa- 
tion afforded by the best Institutions in the Colonies, and by an attendance 
at the Inns of Court for two years. His life and correspondence, edited 
b7 his grandson, the Hon. Williami B. Reed, is one of the most valuable, and ia<- 



112 

Colonies a Washington, to direct and command their army, we 
may believe, that the same Providential care formed for the 
times, the eminent and virtuous men, who composed its early 
Congress. 

The Scotch Irish element in the several counties of Penn- 
sylvania, had, during the Revolution, its full representation in 
the Executive Council of the State and Assembly, and in hav- 
ing at the head of its Judiciary, Chief Justice McKean. 

In those days, requiring clear heads, honest hearts, and sage 
statesmen, we do not find any historical record of elevated 
character, reproaching the Scotch Irish with being a " hot- 
headed race, excitable in temper, unrestrainable in passion, in- 
vincible in prejudice." They occupied, with public approbation 
and respect, the high places in the judiciary, the floor of Con- 
gress, in the committee room, and in the executive government. 

The emigration of the Scotch Irish from Pennsylvania, before 
the Revolution, was southward, into Virginia and N. Carolina, 
The first public road in the Kittochtinny valley, west of the 
Susquehanna, was laid out in 1735, by order of the Court of 
Lancaster, from Harris' Ferry, on the Susquehanna, to the 
Potomac river at Williams' Ferry, in the same valley. The 
travel and emigration was in that direction, for several reasons. 
The country was more accessible, than over the mountains, by 
the Traders' or Indians' paths .The country in Pennsylvania, 
west of the Allegheny mountain, was not open to settlement 
and purchase, until 1769, the cession from the Indians being 
obtained by the Proprietaries the preceding year. Settlements 
had been made in North Carolina, by Irish and Scotch emi- 
grants, as early as 1730, who had landed at Charleston, South 
Carolina, and some in Virginia, about the same time. The 
Kittochtinny valley, south of the Potomac, was attractive to 
settlers, as well as what was north of that river. The settle- 



teresting contributions to our Revolutionary History, and more particularly 
to the participation of Pennsylvania and its citizens, in that memorable strug- 
gle. It is illustrated and verified by the various correspondence of Washing- 
ton, and others, prominent actors in the times that tried men's souls. At the 
early age of forty-four, his active and useful life was closed by disease, in a 
constitution worn out in the service of hie country. 



113 

ments in that portion of this valley, between the Susquehanna 
and Potomac rivers, were, as before stated, retarded to a con- 
siderable extent, until 1737, as the purchase of it, by the Pro- 
prietary of Pennsylvania, from the Indians, was only effected 
in 1736, after which, the Land office was opened for the sale 
of lands, in the established manner, and the controversy in re- 
lation to the Maryland boundary, was quieted by the Royal or- 
der, the same year. 

The greater security in North Carolina, from Indian hostili- 
ties, induced some of the Pennsylvania Scotch Irish settlers, 
to emigrate to the neighborhood of friends, or relatives, resi- 
dent in that southern State. Amongst those emigrating from 
the Kittochtinny valley, west of the Susquehanna, which had 
not then received the name of the Cumberland valley, was the 
father of the Rev. James Hall, D. D., of Treadwell county, North 
Carolina. Dr. Hall was of Scotch Irish parentage, and born 
in that valley in 1744, near where Carlisle was afterwards lo- 
cated. In eight years after,, his father removed with his fam- 
ily, to North Carolina. Dr. Hall, who graduated at Nassau 
Hall, Princeton, in 1774, became an eminent Presbyterian 
minister, and patriot, distinguished for talents, attainments, 
and usefulness. He gave his powers of mind, body and estate 
to the cause of his country. He not only officiated as chap- 
lain in the army, but organized and commanded a military 
company for some time, in the Revolutionary war. To ena- 
ble young men to acquire a knowledge of the sciences, 
who could not afford the expense of attending a northern col- 
lege, he, like the elder Tennent, in Pennsylvania, established 
at his own house, *'an Academy of the Sciences," being him- 
self the sole proprietor, and for which he purchased a philo- 
sophical apparatus. A large number of eminent men received 
their scientific education there, besides a number of ministers 
who studied theology under his direction. His character for 
talents, and piety, and public spirit, his soundness as a theolo- 
gian, his great facility in imparting instruction, and his well 
selected library, caused his house to become a school of the 



114 

prophets, from whicli came out some of the best ministers of 
southern Zion.* 

After the acknowledgement of National Independence, and 
permanent relations of peace, being established with foreign 
countries, as well as with the Indian tribes, the inhabitants of 
Cumberland county resumed their industrialoccupations in 
the cultivation of their farms, and the few who were mechan- 
ics, in their respective employments. The taste for rural life, 
was still the prevailing one, and the occupation preferred, was 
that of agriculture. In this entire valley, from the Susque- 
hanna to the Maryland line, there were, after the close of the 
Revolutionary war, but three villages, viz : Carlisle, Shippens- 
burg, and Chambersburg, containing severally, but a few hun- 
dred inhabitants. Franklin county, separated from Cumber- 
land county in 1784, had, within its entire boundary, but 
one town, Chambersburg, the place of holding the Courts and 
county Offices. 

The inhabitants of Cumberland county, immediately after 
the Revolutionary war, showing their appreciation of a high 
grade for the education of young men in science, literature, 
and theology, turned their attention to the establishment of a 
College, within their bounds. They did not wait to repair the 
losses and sacrifices, to which they had subjected themselves, 
by a military service, in distant places, during the protracted 
war for American Independence, before they would provide 
for elevated education. They were ready to act at once in the 
matter, and this at a time when the governments of the State, 
as well as the Confederation, were embarrassed with war debts, 
want of financial resources, and a confederation of independent 
States, that was deficient in efiective provisions, and in strength, 
was little better than a rope of sand. The people were also 
called on to meet heavy taxation for local. State and National 
purposes, with little or no currency of value, and with very 
limited resources. Yet, the spirit that animated with energy 
and resolution, the men who had encountered the wilderness, 
defended the frontiers of the colony, against the savages and 

* Foote's Sketches of North Carolina, 330. 



115 

tieir French allies, and given themselves up to the defence of 
their country, against royal despotism and parliamentary usur- 
pation, induced them to give their energies and perseve- 
rance, recruited by a short period of peace, to provide for edu- 
cation, by an institution that would be worthy of public confi- 
dence and respect. Measures were taken to collect funds for 
it, and in 1783, a charter was obtained from the Legislature, 
by which the Institution was located at Carlisle, and called 
Dickinson College, in commemoration of John Dickinson, 
President of the Supreme Executive Council of the State, 
who had been liberal in his donation to it. The first faculty 
organized in 1784, consisted of the Rev. Charles Nesbit, of 
Montrose, Scotland, as President ; James Ross, Professor of 
Languages, to which was added, the year following. Rev. Rob- 
ert Davidson, D. D., Professor of Belles Lettres, and Robert 
Johnston, Instructor of Mathematics. Under the auspices of 
this Faculty and Instructors, who were eminently qualified by 
abilities and learning, and who adopted a high standard of ed- 
ucation for their graduates, the College prospered, and acqui- 
red a high reputation, that attracted to it many students, not 
only from Pennsylvania, but from other States. During the 
Presidency of Dr. Nesbit, there graduated many young men 
of celebrity, as lawyers, jurists and statesmen, in this and other 
States, and from the teachings of this College and the theolog- 
ical lectures of Dr. Nesbit to classes, preparatory to the minis- 
try, there were given to the Presbyterian Church, a number of 
ministers of distinction for talents, acquirements, piety and 
usefulness. 

This Institution sustained a severe loss, in the death of Dr. 
Nesbit, in 1804. Dr. Davidson, Professor, and Pastor of the 
Presbyterian church in Carlisle, was his successor for four 
years, as President ^ro tern., when Dr. Atwater was appointed 
President. 

This Institution was founded, in a great measure, by the 
Scotch Irish Presbyterians of Cumberland, and neighboring 
counties in Pennsylvania, who, with the ministers of that 
Church, continued to foster and patronize it for many years, 
during which, it was successful, and very useful, in giving to 



116 

the country, many well educated men. It had not been en- 
dowed sufficiently, to sustain a faculty, with the high qualifica- 
tions desired and demanded. Dr. Atwater, and a succession 
of other Presidents, resigned, after short terms, which was pre- 
judicial to the interests of the Institution, as no one retained 
the Presidency long enough, after Dr. Nesbit, to give it a 
decided reputation. 

Its first faculty wer» of Scotch nativity, or Irish descenty 
and Presbyterian in their religious creed, associations and wor- 
ship. This predominance of Presbyterianism, in the Princi- 
pals and Professors, was continued, with a few exceptions, for 
a series of years. The majority of its Tinistees belonged to 
the same denomination. Though the pervading character of 
this Institution was Presbyterian, yet, it was not sectarian in 
its ruling influence. There was no influence exercised to make 
proselytes amongst its students, from the ranks of other denom- 
inations, and the Institution had the respect and confidence of 
the public, as long as there were abilities, learning and atten- 
tion in its faculty, and efficiency in its government. The in- 
terest of many, who had favored it, abated, and efi"orts to sus- 
tain it, even by the Presbyterian Church, were relaxed, and 
for a number of years it continued to languish, with occasional 
temporary revivals, and spasmodic eff"orts to regain, under a 
new President, some of its former vigor and reputation. This 
was, in a great measure, attributed to the want of attention 
and interest, on the part of its Trustees, and to dissensions 
prevailing with that portion of them living in the vicinity, to 
whom, as is usual, with literary and religious Institutions, it3 
management was chiefly committed. The Trustees of Carlisle 
and its neighborhood, constituted its business board, for the 
management of most of the concerns of the College; and either 
discouraged, by failures of measures adopted to sustain the 
College, or from unhappy dissensions amongst themselves, 
dividing them, chose to give away the Institution, with all its 
property, and corporate privileges ; and then abandon their 
trust, by resignation, to make their donation efiective. There 
can be no reflection on our Methodist brethren, in being par- 
ties to the negotiation. This large donation wa& east into their 



Ill 

lap. They could not well decline it, when all the advantages 
were on their side. Their success was complete, and the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church obtained the control of Dickinson Col- 
lege in 1833, which they have exercised ever since. They 
have treated it as an Institution of their Church, by awaken- 
ing an interest with their denomination, to endeavor to endow 
:and sustain it. The zeal, abilities, and perseverance of its Trus- 
tees and Faculty, immediately imparted to it the vigor which it 
wanted, and made it extensively useful in diffusing education. 

What was the gain of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was 
•the loss of the Presbyterian, whose members and ministers, 
had been the founders and patrons of this Institution, and who 
had given their money, as well as their time, labor and servi- 
ces, to its establishment and organization.* 

The Synod of Philadelphia, within whose bounds this College 
•was, had not the vigilance, activity, and zeal, for the preserva- 
tion of its Institutions, in which men were to be educated for 
the ministry, that characterized that Synod in its early histo- 
ry, or it would not have closed its eyes to the usefulness of 
this Institution to the Church and State, slumbered over its 
decline, or have allowed it, with all its property, advantages, 
and privileges to be given away to any other religious denom- 
ination, however respectable. 

It becomes this ecclesiastical body, and the Baltimore Syn- 
od, to make a vigorous effort to recover their lost ground, re- 
trieve their supineness, and supply, for Presbyterian education 
■and influence, an Institution in middle Pennsylvania, wherein 
young men may receive a preparatory education, that may 
qualify them for the ministry, or learned professions, which in- 
duced the establishment, in early times, when the country was 
new, of the Log and other Colleges, by Presbyterian ministers, 
and the members of the Presbyterian Church. 



• The "writer acknowledges himself as one of the remote and delinquent 
Trustees refeired to, and though not one of the board that made the transfer, 
to which measure lie had made known his opposition, and iu execution of it, 
he did not resign ; yet, he does not exculpate himself on account of absence, 
as it was his duty to have been present, and oppose the measure, with what 
influence he might possess, if advised of the intended action, and was able to 
.attend. 



118 

There are amongst the descendants of the Scotdi Irish set- 
tlers, at this time, within the bounds of these Synods, four fold 
the means and resources, which their ancestors had, when they 
established colleges, which have contributed much to elevate 
and extend education. The number of Presbyterian churches 
in the Cumberland valley, including Path valley, when Dick- 
inson College was established, were sixteen ; the number at 
this time, within the same bounds, is over thirty. Though 
the Presbyterian worshippers, have, in some of the rural con- 
gregations, in the Cumberland valley, diminished, by reason 
of the removal of the members west, or to other residences, 
yet this has been much more than supplied, by new and addi- 
tional Presbyterian churches, in the towns and villages of the 
same valley. Such an Institution, established west of the 
Susquehanna, in middle Pennsylvania, would be incalculably 
useful, without interfering with, or prejudicing kindred Insti- 
tutions, of like character, on the eastern or western borders of 
our great State. 



CHAPTER V. 

Instrumentality of the Scotch Irish schools and seminaries in 
Pennsylvania in the education of young men for usefulness 
in other Colonies — In Virginia: Robinson^ Davies, Waddell., 
the Messrs. Smiths — In North Carolina : McAden, 
Caldioell — New Jersey: Establishment of Nassau Hally 
Princeton — Maryland: Baltimore church organization — 
F. Allison. 

It is difficult to measure, or estimate the advantages to society 
and the country, from the establishment of the academies and 
schools of the Tennents, Blairs, Finley, Smith, and Allison, 
in eastern Pensylvania, during the early part of the eighteenth 
century. Many young men were enabled to obtain within 
those schools, an education on terms, and in a manner not to 
be procured any where else in the middle colonies ; and who, 
without such facilities, must have been withheld from the Intel- 



119 

leetual education they desired, and which was necessary to 
elevate them to stations of distinction and public usefulness. 

Young men of good and studious habits, with abilities of 
an high order and respectability, sought these seminaries, and 
in the plain buildings appropriated to education, under the 
teaching and direction of these eminent and faithful instruc- 
tors, acquired an amount of knowledge, that deservedly gave 
them the reputation of scholars, in classical literature, and 
mathematical proficiency ; whilst those, pursuing their theo- 
logical studies, preparatory to the ministry, testified, by their 
attainments, success and eminent usefulness, that their labors 
had been well directed, and improved, not only to their advan- 
tage as candidates, but to that of extending religious influencCy 
as well as moral and intellectual education. 

From the Log College of the Tennents, first emanated men, 
some of whom, were to be shining lights of the age, in the 
Gospel ministry, and who devoted their talents and attain- 
ments, in proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ. Oth- 
ers, combined with the ministry, the ofiice of teacher, in Sem- 
inaries established, in other localities, after the model of the 
original Log College. 

The influence of these seminaries, established, conducted, 
and maintained in the early history of the Province, by the 
Scotch Irish Presbyterian ministers, was of inestimable useful- 
ness to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania. They gave to the 
rapidly increasing communities, made up of Irish and Scotch 
emigrants, an educated, zealous and pious ministry, sound in 
the faith, and a church organization by Presbyters, that was 
to the desire and acceptance of the great mass of the people. 
In the same schools, the young men of Pennsylvania, and of 
some other colonies, received a classical and scientific educa- 
tion, that prepared some for high places in the medical profes- 
sion, whilst others were educated there, preparatory to the 
study of the law, and acquired, deservedly, the reputation and 
places of jurists, lawyers and statesmen. 

From these fountains of education, issued streams of knowl- 
edge that flowed beyond the bounds of Pennsylvania, into oth- 
er colonies. Young men of talents, learning and piety, from 



120 

these scliools, were the instruments, in the hands of Divine 
Providence, of carrying to the destitute districts of neighbor- 
ing and distant colonies, the means and facilities of improved 
education, and a pious and evangelical ministry. Amongst these 
instruments of early missionary labor, was the Rev. Wm. Rob- 
inson, who was sent as an evangelist, by the Presbytery of New 
Castle, in the winter of 1742-3, in consequence of the earnest 
solicitations of the people, to visit the Presbyterian settlements 
in the valley of the Shenandoah, and some parts of Virginia, 
then destitute of a ministry. He entered on his mission with 
zeal and perseverance, and though incommoded and obstruct- 
ed on entering Virginia by intolerance, and arrest, for preach- 
ing without a license from the Governor, he was permitted to 
proceed to North Carolina ; and on his return, preached in 
Hanover county, Virginia, the first sermon heard there from a 
Presbyterian minister. He continued preaching four days, 
successively, to large and increasing audiences, with a power, 
and success, in awaking the careless, instructing the ignorant, 
that was wonderful and unprecedented, and with impressions 
that were lasting and permanent, and to the conversion of 
many. Plis engagements, elsewhere, to visit the destitute dis- 
tricts in Virginia, soliciting the preaching of the Gospel, by a 
minister of sound and practical piety, took him from Hanover. 
The audiences that had heard his discourses there, with so 
much interest and profit, proposed to renuraerate him for his 
services, which he declined. The money raised, was, without 
his knowledge, put into his saddle-bags, by the gentleman at 
whose house he lodged. When he afterwards discovered it, he 
refused to appropriate it to his own use, though his means were 
small, and applied it to aid Samuel Davies, then a student at 
Fagg's Manor, Pennsylvania, pursuing his studies under the 
care of the Rev. Samuel Blair, for the ministry. By an in- 
scrutable Providence, whose ways are those of infinite wisdom, 
and past the finding out of short-sighted men, Mr. Robinson, 
this eminent and faithful steward of his Lord and Master, was 
removed from his labors on earth, in April, 1746. He was a 
martyr, it was believed, to the labors he voluntarily endured for 
the cause of Christ, in Virginia and North Carolina. He be- 



121 

queathed his library to his young friend, protege and fellow- 
laborer, the Rev. Samuel Davies, on whom his mantle may be 
supposed to have fallen.* 

Next in order of time, we may name the Rev. Samuel Da- 
vies, alluded to. He was of Welsh descent, and born in New 
Castle county, Delaware, then Pennsylvania. Having been 
licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle, in 1745, he visited 
Virginia, and located himself permanently there in 1748, in 
the county of Hanover, where his friend, the Rev. Mr. Robin- 
son, had, as a pioneer, assisted in opening the way for Gospel 
instruction and ordinances, some years before. Mr, Davies, 
in eloquence, piety, and learning, had no superior, was call- 
ed "the prince of preachers," and acquired a greater influence, 
than any other preacherin. Virginia ever possessed. From this 
field of labor and usefulness, Mr. Davies was withdrawn, by 
his election to the Presidency of the College of New Jersey, 
in 1759, where he continued until his death in 1761, at the 
age of thirty-seven. 

James Waddell, distinguished in Virginia history and litera- 
ture as a scholar and orator, eminent for eloquence and piety, 
was brought, in 1739, from Ireland, an infant in the arms of 
his mother, to Pennsylvania, selected by his parents as their 
place of abode. Having been disabled in the use of his hand, 
by an accidental blow from an axe in the hand of a brother, 
his parents, in consequence of this disability, were induced to 
seek for him a liberal education, for which, his powers of mind 
were admirably adapted. His progress at the " Log College" 
of Dr. Finley, at Nottingham, was rapid. His attainments in 
the Greek and Latin studies, were of so high an order, as to 
occasion his promotion, when a youth, to the office of Tutor, in 
the Nottingham academy, as well as in that of Rev. Rob- 
ert Smith, of Pequea, of Lancaster county. Having acquired 
great proficiency in his studies, at the age of nineteen he re- 
moved from Pennsylvania southward, and on his way, formed 
the acquaintance of the Rev. Samuel Davies, in Virginia, 
where he was induced to remain, taking charge of a classical 

*■ Foote's Sketches of Virginia. 



122 

school of Louisa, and commenced the studies, preparatory for 
the sacred ministry in Virginia, which, thenceforth, became his 
home. In 1761, he was licensed by the Presbytery, and in 
the same year, several calls were put into his hands from va- 
cant churches in Virginia, and also one from the neighbor- 
hood of York, Pennsylvania, and of the many promising fields 
of labor, as a minister, presented to him, he made choice of 
the lower part of the great northern neck in Virginia, between 
the rivers Potomac and Rappahannoc. His interesting, use- 
ful, and successful labors, as a minister, in the northern neck, 
were ended in the early part of the Revolutionary war, by his 
removal to the valley of Shenandoah in 1778, occasioned by 
the emigration of leading persons in his congregations, to the 
mountainous regions, and his impaired health, from bilious 
attacks, in the northern neck. The call of General Green, for 
aid to resist Cornwallis, in his invasion, was responded to 
promptly by the Scotch Irish members of Mr. Waddell's pas- 
toral charge, who, before their departure for the camp, met 
them in arms, and preached to them a pastor's farewell, which, 
to many, were the last words they ever heard from the lips of 
their revered pastor. 

Mr. Waddell's great affliction, was an incurable blindness. 
Though blind, he was devoted, to books ; his wife and children 
spending hours daily in reading to him. Owing to this, his pow- 
ers of mind were not impaired by his loss of sight, and he re- 
tained his usual flow of spirits, which often arose to hilarity. 
He never declaimed in the pulpit, but prepared his exercises 
for that place with study. 

The graphic description, by the eminent and eloquent Wirt, 
of Waddell, the blind preacher, is indelibly impressed on the 
pages of Virginia history. It has been compared to the po- 
ems of Homer, which immortalized the writer as well as his 
hero. Mr. Waddell died in 1805, with great Christian seren- 
ity, universally beloved, and his body was carried to the grave 
by his servants, who performed this last service with reverence 
and grief. 

Virginia was also indebted to the same schools, for the dis- 
tinguished and learned Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, and Rev. 



123 

John Blair Smith, D. D., brothers of Irish descent, born and 
educated at the Log academy, of their father, Robert Smith, 
D. D., in the county of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and gradu- 
ates of the College of New Jersey, at Princeton. The Rev. S. 
S. Smith, having been licensed by the New Castle Presbytery, 
visited, in 1771, Virginia, as a missionary, when he at once saw 
the necessity of a literary institution in Virginia, and aided and 
encouraged the efforts of Hanover Presbytery to call it into be- 
ing. He became the projector and founder of Hampden Sidney 
College in that colony. Notwithstanding the exciting times 
of the Revolution, in 1775, Mr. Smith, with the aid of this Pres- 
bytery, proceeded to collect funds for the establishment of the 
projected literary institution. "The Presbytery, it is stated, pro- 
ceeded to take steps to have Mr. Smith settled as a preacher as 
well as a teacher, according to the spirit of the ^ Log College^' 
in Pennsylvania, which had been so rich in blessings on Vir- 
ginia." Mr. Smith was chosen Rector of the infant institution, 
then called the academy of Prince Edward, and shortly after 
of Hampden Sidney College, and also installed pastor of the 
united congregations of Cumberland and Prince Edward. 
Amongst the Trustees selected for this humble institution of 
Presbyterian origin, and Scotch Irish affinities, were James 
Madison, Jr., afterwards Chief Magistrate of the United States, 
and Patrick Henry, the distinguished orator, and Governor of 
Virginia. 

The College was organized by the appointment of Mr. JohnB. 
Smith, brother of the principal, as first assistant, and Mr. Sam- 
uel Doak, as second assistant. From the increase of students, 
beyond expectation, Mr. David Witherspoon was appointed 
third assistant. Hampden Sidney went on prosperously, in- 
creasing in reputation and usefulness, having one hundred and 
ten students the first summer, notwithstanding the Revolution- 
ary contest. 

The terms of this academy, when opened in 1776, were ^8 
for board; and for washing and bed, £3 per year. So great was 
the desire of the youth of the Scotch Irish race of Virginia to 
avail themselves of the advantages to be enjoyed in education, 
under the teachings of the Messrs. Smith, at their log college. 



124 

that there was a scarcity of apartments for their accommoda- 
tion, and whilst the new academy building was in rapid pro- 
gress, many of the students erected small temporary huts, 
with the shingles prepared for the academy. In these they 
were packed close, and with a plank for three or four boys to 
sit upon, where they diligently pursued their studies till a late 
hour of the night. From the difficulty of obtaining board and 
lodging for the numbers that thronged for admission, Messrs. 
N. Venable and P. Carrington, public men of eminence, honor- 
ed for their patriotism and religion, built houses for their sons 
to occupy. 

The Messrs. Smith from Pennsylvania, with the aid of the 
friends of liberty, and religious and moral education in Virgin- 
ia, in Revolutionary times, surmounted obstacles that would 
now be deemed appalling, and excited an enthusiasm seldom 
equalled, to establish in that State a Seminary of learning, for 
the higher branches of education, after the model of the un- 
pretending, but useful log colleges of Pennsylvania. 

In 1779, the Rev. Samuel S. Smith, having had an invita- 
tion from the Trustees of New Jersey College, to accept the 
office of Professor of Moral Philosophy in that Institution, with 
the approbation of the Presbytery, accepted, and shortly af- 
ter was made president of the same Institution. His brother, 
the Rev. John Blair Smith, was appointed his successor of 
Hampden Sidney, under whose Presidency, this College, on 
the model of the Log College of Pennsylvania, prospered, both 
in its theological and literary department, in a manner never 
surpassed in succeeding years. The President having also ac- 
cepted the call of the churches of Cumberland and Briery, 
united the offices of Pastor with the Presidency of College and 
the Professor of Theology, embracing work for three men, and 
giving a Christian spirit to the efforts for the education of 
youth. With him, men of the greatest probity and of the highest 
public estimation and private worth, were associated in the 
direction of this Seminary, " where the purest sentiments of 
religion and patriotism, were inculcated in a most efficient 
manner." 

"President Smith's preaching," says Dr." Hill, "was of the 



125 

most animating, pungent, practical character, feeling close for 
the conscience, and applying truth home to the heart." 

Dr. Hoge, who was President of the same College, in speak- 
ing of Dr. J. B. Smith, said : " A preacher possessing every 
ministerial qualification, in a degree so eminent, I have never 
known ; nor do I ever expect again to hear a preacher, whose 
discourses will be equally calculated for the learned and un- 
learned, the rich and the poor, the devout Christian, and the 
abandoned profligate; in a word, every character and descrip- 
tion of men. Methinks I still see him stand the accredited am- 
bassador of the great King of kings, and Lord of lords, while 
every feature and every muscle of his face, every word and 
action, as well as the lightning of his eyes, seem to bespeak a 
soul on fire."* 

The Declaration of American Independence, by the Con- 
gress of the Colonies, in 1776, animated the citizens, young 
and old, of Virginia, as it did their kinsmen in Pennsylvania, 
and many offered themselves, as soldiers, to redeem the pledge 
" of their fortunes and sacred honor,'" in the maintenance of 
that Independence. "Engaged, as the students were, in Hamp- 
den Sidney College, in the pursuit of their studies, their hearts 
were warm on the side of American liberty, and with the arts 
and sciences, they exercised in military training, and in the 
rudiments of war. The Rev. John Blair Smith, the first as- 
sistant of this Institution, and afterwards its President, was 
chosen Captain of a company of students, about sixty-five in 
number, over seventeen years of age. Mr. D. Witherspoon^ 
second assistant, their Lieutenant, and Mr. S. Venable, their 
Ensign. The students were uniformed, viz : a hunting shirt, 
died purple, and every student, although under sixteen years 
of age, was mustered every month." 

In 1777, there was a requisition from the Governor, for a 
company of militia from Prince Edward county, to oppose an 
expected invasion from the British. All the students of this 
College, above sixteen years of age, with the advice of their 
President, the Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, exchanged their 



* Dr. Foote'B Sketches of Virginia. 



126 

numbers for No. 1, with the militia of the county, and marched 
to Williamsburg, under their officers, to obey the Governor's 
orders. 

After the battle of the Cowpens, in 1781, the excitement 
in the southern country was great, when Morgan and'Green 
were retreating before the superior army of Cornwallis, Cap- 
tain Morton, having, in two days, raised a company of his 
neighbors, to join Green. The Rev. John Blair Smith, then 
President of Hampden Sidney College, set out at once to join 
the company of Captain Morton, which he overtook in Hali- 
fax. The Captain earnestly entreated him to return to Prince 
Edward, that he could serve the cause more at home, by 
his exciting patriotic speeches, than by his presence in camp. 
Worn out by fatigue, the President returned to the College. 
" Peter Johnson, about sixteen years of age, the son of the 
donor of the land on which the College was built, offered him- 
self, and was rejected as under age and under size. He nev- 
ertheless procured a horse, and offered himself to Lee, and 
was, with some hesitation, received. He served during that 
momentous campaign, with great honor, taking a part in sev- 
eral actions, beside the decisive one of Guilford Court House. 
He was, in after life, a Judge of eminence in his native State."* 

The College suffered from the calamities of a protracted 
war, which, with its desolation, and alarms, was carried into 
its very neighborhood, and students, in defence of the liberties 
of their country, gave up their books for war implements, and 
from their school rooms repaired to the ranks of the Revolu- 
tionary army. " When the war was over, the College was in 
a depressed state. The enthusiasm for education was some- 
what abated among the people at large, objects of ambition 
and speculation, and the repair of broken fortunes and ruined 
estates, engrossed the great body of the people. There were 
still patriots, to appreciate the immeasurable importance of the 
universal dissemination of knowledge, pure morality, and 
religion, for the preservation of the political liberty and its ad- 
vantages, acquired by the arms of freemen." The friends of 

* Dr. Foote's Sketches of Virginia, 403, 



m 

Hampden Sidney, after the war, applied for, and obtained, 
from the Legislature, in 1783, a charter for the Academy under 
the name of a College, with its privileges and powers. Dr. 
Hill says, " that after the capture of Cornwallis and his army^ 
the students returned to College, and Dr. Smith entered de 
novo, upoii his various and responsible duties. The number 
of students continued to increase, until the rooms in the College 
were as full as they well could contain." 

In 1789, Mr. Smith resigned the Presidency of the College^ 
and gave himself entirely to the work of the ministry.* 

For men of great magnitude and brightness to illumine the 
darkness of her colonial destitution, Virginia was greatly in- 
debted to the Scotch Irish race of Pennsylvania, and the sem- 
inaries, under the care and teachings of their Presbyterian 
ministers, men of the same origin, or descent, being born or 
receiving their early education in Pennsylvania, which was 
afterwards pursued at the College of New Jersey, to the procure- 
ment of a Degree. This was followed by theological studies for 
the ministry, which obtained for them the license of a Presby- 
tery, under whose care they were, and became missionaries to the 
south. Some of them were instrumental, with others, in es- 
tablishing, in Virginia, a Seminary of learning, which after- 
wards became Washington College, at Lexington. 

North Carolina, as an American colony, was early debtor to 
the Scotch Irish of Pennsj^lvania, for supplies by an elevated and 
pious ministry, to their destitute Presbyterian congregationsy 
made up chiefly of emigrants from Ireland and Scotland, di- 
rectly, and others from the same countries, after a residence, 
for a time, in Virginia or Pennsylvania. From the same sourcCj 
was received their pioneers in the establishment of classical 
and scientific schools, for the education of the young men of 
the colony in the higher branches of knowledge. 

Among the first, was the Piev. Hugh McAden, born in Penn- 
sylvania, of Irish descent, a graduate of Nassau Hall, receiv- 
ing his instruction in theology under the direction of the Rev, 
John Blair. He was licensed by the New Castle Presbytery, 



* Dr. Foote's Sketches of Virginia, 405, 



128 

1755, in which year, as a missionary, he visited the Presbyte- 
rian settlements of North Carolina, and preached to many 
congregations, the first sermon they had heard in the colony. 
In 1759, being ordained, he accepted a pastoral charge in 
North Carolina, and labored faithfully, and acceptably for many 
years, till his death. 

He was followed, in a few years, by the eminent and learned 
Rev. David Caldwell,. D. D., who combined in himself the 
sound and pious minister of the Gospel, with the profound, ac- 
complished and successful instructor of young men. He was 
born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1725, and pur- 
sued his preparatory course of studies, under the tuition of 
the Rev. Robert Smith, of Pequea, in that county, distinguish- 
ed for his usefulness, and as the father of sons, educated under 
his care, who were at the same time Presidents of the Colle- 
ges of New Jersey and Hampden Sidney. Mr. Caldwell grad- 
uated at Princeton, in 1761, where he engaged, for a time, as a 
Tutor and in the study of theology. Being licensed and ordained 
by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, he became a missionary 
to some vacant congregations in North Carolina, that had so- 
licited supplies from the Synod of Philadelphia. In some of 
these congregations were acquaintances and friends, who, a 
few years before, had removed into that colony. In 1768, he 
accepted a pastoral charge there, and commenced a classical 
school, where he continued, until the infirmities of age disqual- 
ified him as a teacher. This school was the second classical 
school, of permanence, and perhaps tlie first in usefulness, in 
the upper part of Carolina. The instruction in this school, 
was thorough, and it flourished, being instrumental, during the 
long period of its continuance, in bringing more men into the 
learned professions, than any other taught by a single individ- 
ual, or by a succession of teachers, during the same period of 
time. Five of his scholars became Governors of States, a 
number were promoted to high places in the Judiciary ; about 
fifty became ministers of the Gospel, and a large number were 
physicians and lawyers. ' He was of the most studious habits, 
his thoughts always exalted to the true dignity of his work, and 
where led by convictions of duty, and a desire to be useful, be 



129 

was untiring in labor, persevering and inflexible from his pur- 
pose. Most, if not all, of his students, received their entire clas- 
sical education from him, so that for a time, his school Was 
Academy, College and Theological Seminary.* 

" Living in the exciting times of the Revolution, with the roy- 
al army at his door, he was an ardent whig. So great was his 
influence, on the side of American Independence, that he be- 
came obnoxious to Lord Cornwallis, and his officers. Dr. 
Caldwell's residence was but a few miles from Guilford Court 
House, and his congregations were harassed hj the plunder- 
ings, and cruelties of the needy and irritated army of Corn- 
wallis, which were endured by a patriotic people with a con- 
stancy and bravery to be admired and held in grateful remem- 
brance. The house of this eminent patriot and minister of 
the Gospel, on the Sabbath, was plundered, his wife and chil- 
dren turned out of doors, his property stolen, his library and 
valuable papers burned, by the royal army, A purse of .£200 
was set, by his Lordship, on the Doctor's head, to any one who 
would bring him in a prisoner. But the camp of General 
Green, saved him from the ferocious enemy. 

The useful life of Dr. Caldwell, was prolonged by Providence, 
till August, 1824, when he departed this life at the age of 
ninety-nine years. His pastoral services were continued until 
1820, his ninety-fourth year, requiring assistance, from weak- 
ness, on his return home, to dismount from his horse, and be 
carried into his house." 

Others might be named, of Scotch Irish nativity, in Penn- 
sylvania, who, after receiving an education in her Log Colle- 
ges, which was afterwards extended at Nassau Hall, Prince- 
ton, were missionaries of education as well as of the Gospel, 
to the Scotch Irish settlements of Virginia, North Carolina, 
and Tennessee, where their labors were blessed with extensive 
usefulness. 



■* It is a gratification to us, and the more so, as it is rare in these days, to 
find a descendant of the Puritans, as the Rev. W. Henry Foote, in his Sket ch- 
es of North Carolina and Virginia, exhibit a spirit of liberality and justice 
to the Scotch Irish race, who form a large portion of the population of those 
States, and -who for intelligence, integrity, patriotism, and religious charac- 
ter, have received, as they deserved, high commendation. 



130 

New Jersey was indebted, chiefly, to the founders and pa- 
trons of the Log Colleges of eastern Pennsylvania, for the es- 
tablishment of the College of Nassau Hall, at Princeton, in 
the infancy of that colony, and which did more to distinguish 
and benefit it, than any other Institution ever created within 
its bounds. It was of Scotch Irish origin, and was nursed and 
fostered into great usefulness, and celebrity by the men of Irish 
and Scotch nativity, or descent, in Pennsylvania. Though in 
Maryland, Presbyterian congregations had been formed on the 
Eastern shore, as well as in Baltimore county, in the early part 
of the eighteenth century, yet they were small, and languish- 
ed, as the influx of emigrants of that denomination would seem 
to have preferred other colonies for their settlements. Settlers, 
or citizens of enterprise, were attracted from the counties of 
Cumberland and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, inl760, to Baltimore 
town, then containing thirty or forty houses, and about three 
hundred inhabitants. These emigrants were Presbyterians of 
Irish or Scotch descent ; they organized themselves into a con- 
gregation, and invited the Rev. Patrick Allison, as before 
briefly noticed, as a supply for one year. Mr. Allison was a 
native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish pa- 
rents, and received his classical and preparatory education at 
the Philadelphia Academy, where he was engaged, for some 
time, as an assistant teacher. 

Mr. Allison accepted the charge, and in 1765, was fully or- 
dained to the pastoral office, by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. 
Mr. Allison was a man of learning, and piety. The matter 
of his sermons was rich and instructive, and his style clear and 
nervous. He was especially distinguished in the Church 
courts, and Dr. Miller has said of him, that in debate, he had 
scarce an equal. He died in 1802, having served this congre- 
gation nearly forty years. This congregation, from a little 
handful, that organized it, and called Mr. Allison, during his 
ministry, became one of the largest and most influential in the 
country. Mr. Allison was also prominent in every effort, in his 
day^ to promote morality, education, and liberty in Maryland, 



131 



CHAPTER VI. 

South Western Pennsylvania — Its early settlements — Contro- 
versy with Virginia as to Boundary — Purchase hy Pro- 
prietary of Indian claim 1768 — Open to ajjpropriation hy 
Pennsylvania grants after 1769 — Influx of settlers restrain- 
ed hy apprehension of Indian hostilities, and war of Revo- 
lution — Boundary ivitli Virginia settled hy compact — Bap- 
id progress after the Bevolution — Missionaries — Supervis- 
ion of Philadelphia and New York Synod — Messrs. Power 
McMillan, Smith, Bod, and others — Toil and sacrifices — 
Success in organization of Presbyterian congregations — 
Bedstone Presbytery — Seminaries of learning — Public men: 
St. Qlair, Brackenridge, Boss, Addison, G-allatin, 
Findlay — Western insurrection — Peace, and order — Lite- 
rary and Theological institutions — Imp>rovements and in- 
crease of population — Extent of district — Beligion and mor- 
als of people. 

The great district of Pennsylvania, for the development of the 
Scotch Irish character, in its energies, enterprise, religious, 
and moral principles, as well as its educational tendencies and 
usefulness, was southwestern Pennsylvania. 

The first settlements, by the whites, in Pennsylvania, west 
of the Allegheny mountains, on lands bordering on the Ohio, 
Monongahela, Youghiogeny, and Allegheny rivers, and their 
tributaries, were shortly before, and after Braddock's defeat, 
in 1765. These were chiefly under grants or permits from the 
Oovernor or authorities of the colony of Virginia, which claim- 
ed the country on these waters, embracing the locality of 
Pittsburg, then called Fort Duquesne, occupied by a French 
garrison. Some emigrants from Maryland had also settled in 
the same country. 



132 

Those who settled in that attractive and fertile district, un. 
der a claim of Pennsylvania jurisdiction, before 1769, did so 
in contravention of public law, as those lands had not been 
purchased by the Proprietary of Pennsylvania, from the In- 
dians, until by the treaty at Fort Stanwix, in 1768, and 
were not open to purchase, settlement or appropriation, under 
the laws of Pennsylvania, until after that purchase. 

Yet there were adventurous and restless spirits from Penn- 
sylvania, and elsewhere, east of the Allegheny mountain, who, 
contrary to law, and in defiance of the Proclamation of the 
Governor of Pennsylvania, and public magistrates, presumed 
to make settlements, to a limited extent, in this western coun- 
try, likely to be overrun by settlers claiming under Virginia. 
By that colony, and its authorities, the Indian claim was not 
regarded, and their laws allowed the grants to individuals, of 
land, in quantities, as desired, and at prices less than one 
tenth of that fixed by the Proprietary of Pennsylvania, as the 
price of vacant land within his province. 

These settlements were in 1768, and shortly before the sub- 
ject of complaints, by the western Indians, both to the Pro- 
prietary of Pennsylvania, as well as the Provincial government 
of that colony. A law of excessive severitv was passed by its 
Legislature in 1768, subjecting to capital punishment, the of- 
fence of a settlement on lands unpurchased by the Proprietary, 
from the Indian claimants. The Governor of Pennsylvania, 
in February, 1768, issued a Proclamation, requiring settlers to 
remove from these lands, informing them of the penalties to 
which they were subject, and appointed the Rev. John Steele, 
and others, of Cumberland county, commissioners, on behalf of 
the Government and Proprietary, to visit the settlements ; car- 
ry with them and distribute the Proclamation ; require the 
settlers to remove, and w^arn them of the consequences, if they 
did not, to themselves, from the Governor's prosecution and 
Indian hostilities. The commissioners proceeded at once to 
visit these settlements, for the purpose required, and in April, 
1768, reported to the Governor, that there were but about one 
hundred and fifty families on the difi"erent settlements on Red- 
stone, y oughiogeny and Cheat Rivers, which they visited, and 



133 

made known the law, and requisitions of the government, but 
to little purpose, as respected the removal of the settlers, who 
generally were inclined to take their chances of hostilities from 
the Indians, with whom the Proprietary agents were understood, 
to be then negotiating, for the purchase of their claim to the 
lands on those waters. The requisitions of the Governor and 
the penalties"of the law, seemed to have but had little regard, in 
the consideration of the settlers. The excessive severity of 
the law, rendered it inoperative. No one supposed, that the 
Government, or any authority under it, would attempt to carry 
into execution, a law, subjecting to the punishment of death a 
settler, for the offence of putting up a cabin for the residence 
of his family, and clearing and cultivating some fertile land, as 
the means of supporting that family, in an extensive wilderness, 
because an Indian tribe of hunters, living in their wigwams, at 
a distance of one hundred miles or more, made claim to half 
the Province, for their hunting ground, until they received 
some remuneration for their release. They did not consider 
their offence as mala in se, but as prohibited, from considera- 
tions of public policy, on which public sentiment was divided. 
The Governor of Virginia had, by proclamation, at the same 
time, required the removal of settlers under Virginia claims, 
from the disputed territory, but with no better success. 

The settlers in the neighborhood of Fort Pitt, by the per- 
mission of George Croghan, superintendent of Indian affairs ; 
and those who had settled on the main roads, leading across 
the mountains to Fort Pitt, by permits from the commanders 
and other officers of the army, for the convenience of the ar- 
my, its reinforcements and supplies, were exempt from the pen- 
alties of the law, and the requisitions of the public magistrates. 

The Indian claim being removed, by the purchase of the 
Proprietary, at Fort Stanwix, Nov. 5, 1768, these lands 
were open to settlement, grants or appropriations, under Penn- 
sylvania, which now progressed more rapidly, though obstruct- 
ed by interference of settlers under Virginia, and the uncer- 
tainty of title, in this conflict of jurisdiction between the two 
colonies. The settlements, however, were extended, in a coun- 
try attractive for fertility of soil, with all the advantages of 



134 

climate, water, and timber. Emigrants, from the east side of 
the mountains, could only reach it by a long journey, over 
lofty mountains, by rugged roads, scarcely passable for any 
wheel carriage, conveying their families on pack horses, with their 
supplies of clothing and bedding. Yet, before the Revolution, 
;ind pending that war, many families of subtance, intelligence, 
religious and moral character, overcame obstacles, which would 
seem insurmountable, in making their way to an abode, on the 
choice lands of south western Pennsylvania. When these ad- 
venturous and resolute emigrants, got to the end of their jour- 
ney, it Avas to settle in the wilderness, with a log cabin for 
their dwelling ; neighbors few and far between ; separated from 
eastern friends and relatives by mountain ranges, a barrier to 
an interchange of visits, except at great intervals; without the 
comforts and conveniences enjoyed by eastern friends, and re- 
mote from all seminaries of education, and where the worship 
of their heavenly Father, by an assembled congregation, was 
in the open air, with the firmament for a canopy, and for their 
seats, the bare earth, or the rough logs of the forest. 

These settlements, during the Revolutionary war, and for 
years after, were exposed to the hostilities of the Indians, who, 
frequently, by their fitealthy marches, surprised and alarmed 
the inhabitants, often marking their way by fire, and the mas- 
sacre of families. The conflict of jurisdiction between the two 
States, in the exercise of the powers of government, obstructed 
the administration of justice, incommoded the inhabitants, and 
led to contests and arrests, between the oiScers of these bor- 
der States, that were harassing to both. 

In 1779, the States of Pennsylvania and Virginia, agreed 
to terminate this unprofitable controversy, by an extension of 
the Mason and Dixon line west, as a boundary, saving to all 
persons previously acquired rights, under the laws and usages 
of these States, according to priority, which was executed and 
ratified. By the boundary piovided for and established, the 
large district of fine country in dispute between Virginia and 
Pennsylvania, was permanently assigned to Pennsylvania, as 
her territory. 

The early settlers, who had settled within this district, un- 



135 

der either of these governments, were, with few exceptions, of 
Irish and Scotch nativity or descent. Having a common ori- 
gin, and associations, they were much alike in principles and 
habits, agreeing in their religions professions and doctrines, 
devoted to the principles of the Protestant reformation, choos- 
ing and maintaining the Presbyterian church organization, as 
that most approved by them. Amongst these Presbyterians, 
there were some slight shades of difference, to separate 
them, chiefly on Psalmody, which led to the organization of 
separate and distinct ecclesiastical judicatories, that are yet 
maintained, though agreeing in having a common standard of 
doctrine and creed, as well as of church government, con- 
tained in the Westminster Confession of Faith, with its Church 
rules and Catechisms. 

The Synod of Philadelphia and New York did not overlook 
the settlers, who had taken up their abode in the wilderness, 
west of the Allegheny, and at an early day provision was made 
by them to have these distant settlements on the frontiers sup- 
plied with suitable and qualified missionaries, licensed and or- 
dained by the Presbytery to the work of the ministry. In 
1766, the Rev. Charles Beaty, of Irish nativity, who had ob- 
tained his classical education in Ireland, before his emigration, 
pursued his studies, with a view to the Gospel ministry, at the 
Log College, at Neshaminy, then under the care of the cele- 
brated Wm. Tennent, and was licensed by the Presbytery of 
New Brunswick. He was associated with Rev. G. Duffield, a 
minister of high reputation and experience, to visit the frontier 
settlement of the far west region, as well as the Indians, as 
missionaries, by the appointment of the Synod. 

These appointments were continued, by this Synod, from 
time to time, through a series of twenty years, to supply the 
destitute brethren on the south western frontier of Pennsylvania 
and Virginia, with not only accredited missionaries, but of a high 
order for talents, learning, piety and experience in the ministry. 
Their labors in preaching, catechising, and administering the 
ordinances of the Church, were blessed, in organizing congre- 
gations amongst the settlers for the maintenance of Christian 
worship, and religious instruction, training and governments 



136 

Messrs. Beaty and Duffield, owing to the apprehension of In- 
dian disturbances, were enabled only to visit some of the set- 
tlements, and the missions were afterwards renewed, extended 
and fulfilled, by the labors of Rev. James Finley, and others, 
under the appointments of the Presbyteries of New Castle and 
Donegal. 

The first ordained minister, that settled with his family, in 
Western Pennsylvania, was the Rev. James Power, D. D. 
He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, the child of 
pious parents, who had emigrated from the north of Ireland. 
His education, preparatory to entering College, is believed to 
have been at the Fagg's manor school, of that county, under the 
care of the eminent Rev. John Blair. He graduated at Nas- 
sau Hall, Princeton, in 1766, and was licensed by the Presby- 
tery of New Castle in 1772. He labored for several years 
as a missionary, in the western settlements, as well as in 
Virginia. In the summer of 1776, in the exciting times of the 
Revolution, and when the country was most agitated with the 
question of Independence, Mr. Power decided upon going west 
with his family, and he was ordained for that purpose at Octa- 
raro, Lancaster county. In the autumn of that year, he re- 
moved, with his family, and took up his residence in the bounds 
of Dunlap's creek congregation, which is within the county of 
Fayette. Mr. Power labored, after his removal to the west, 
to supply the destitute churches, over an extensive district, 
though he resided at Dunlap's creek, the principal place of 
his labors, and not until 1779, he became the regular pastor 
of Sewickly and Mount Pleasant congregations. He lived to 
the age of eighty-five, greatly venerated and beloved for his 
piety, fidelity, and usefulness. " He was a graceful speaker, 
and of polished manners. His sermons were clear, methodical 
and expressive in language, well selected. His enunciation 
was so perfect, that when he spoke in the open air, as he fre- 
quently did, he could be heard at a great distance. His min- 
istry was successful in edifying Christians, instructing the 
young and improving the morals of the community." Such was 
the man of Irish parentage, educated in the schools of the 
Scotch Irish ministers, that turned his back on the comforts of 



I 



137 

more refined society, and this world's enjoyments and emolu- 
ments, in the older settlements, east of the mountains, and be- 
came the first settled minister in the bounds of the old Red- 
stone Presbytery. 

The great pioneer of evangelical and practical religion, as 
well as of improved education in western Pennsylvania, was 
the Rev. John McMillan, D. D., born in Fagg's manor, Ches- 
ter county, Pennsylvania, in 1752, the child of Irish parents. 
His classical education was acquired at his native place, in the 
academy under the care and direction of the Rev. John Blair, 
distinguished for talents and learning, as well as for the emi- 
nence of many of his pupils, in learning, eloquence and piety. 
Mr. McMillan finished his classical studies under the Rev. 
Robert Smith, at Pequea, and entered Princeton College in 
1770. He graduated in 1772 and returning to Pequea to 
pursue his study of theology, under Dr. Robert Smith, was 
licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle, in 1774. He early 
exhibited his missionary zeal, and under appointments, visited 
vacant congregations of Presbyterians, in the valley of Virginia, 
also in western Pennsylvania. Though his talents, learn- 
ing, piety, and other qualifications, for an acceptable and qual- 
ified minister, would have commanded the most comfortable 
situation in the Church, in the old settlements, yet, Mr. Mc- 
Millan chose to forego all these, traverse the great wilderness 
of mountains, and cast his lot and that of his family, with the 
settlers, on the waters of the Monongahela and Youghiogeny, 
with all the sacrifices, privations, toils, sufi'erings, and perils, 
that were attendant upon these remote settlements, destitute of 
the comforts and conveniences of social life, as well as of min- 
isterial labors, teaching, and Gospel ordinances. He was 
ordained by the Presbytery of Donegal, at Chambersburg, 
June, 1776. The Revolutionary movements and Indian dis- 
turbances, prevented him from removing his family at once, 
though he visited the congregations of Chartiers and Pigeon 
creek, in western Pennsylvania, as often as circumstances 
would allow, and to his new field of labor in these congrega- 
tions, as a settled pastor, he brought his family in November, 
1778. We are furnished with his own account of the new resi- 



138 

clence he had for himself and family, in the new field of labor 
he had chosen for his abode, and that of his family.* 

The leadings of Providence would seem to be marked and 
observable in the destiny, and labors, of this eminent minis- 
ter of the Gospel, and instructor. The times, the state of the 
country, and people, to whom he went, required no ordinary 
man, but one of uncommon energy, resolution, industry and 
perseverance, with ability, learning, sound in the faith, of 
practical piety ; apt to teach and willing to spend his powers 
and be spent, in the service of his Divine Master. The Rev. 
Mr. McMillan was the man for this service. Not discouraged 
by the untoward circumstances of his new residence, in his 
log cabin of simple structure, and plain accommodation for 
his family, he entered on his pastoral labors with zeal. The 
circumstances in which he was placed, required him to " work 
with his own hands," in handling the axe, and the other im- 
plements of the sturdy laborer, in the new country. He was 
of vigorous bodily powers, and during his long life, was never 
confined half a day by sickness. 

" Though it was necessary for him to labor in improving his 
building and clearing his land, he did not allow this to inter- 



• Dr. McMillan, in a letter fo Dr- Carnahan, in 1832, gave the following ac- 
count of liis arrival in this western field, in 1778. [Old Redstone. 186.] 

" When I came to this country, the cabin in which I was to live, was raised, 
Imt there was no roof to it, nor any chimney or floor. The people, however, 
were very kind, they assisted me in preparing my house, and on the 16th of 
December, I removed into it. But we had neither bedstead, nor tables, nor 
.-tool, nor chair, nor bucket. All these things we had to leave behind us, as 
there was no wagon road at that time over the mountains, we could bring 
nothing with us but what was carried on pack horses. We placed two boxes 
one on the other, which served us for a table, and two kegs served us for seats, 
and having committed ourselves to God, in family worship, we spread a bed 
on the floor and slept soundlj^ till morning. The next day, a neighbor com- 
ing to my assistance, we made a table and stool, and in a little time, had 
every thing comfortable about us. Sometimes, indeed, we had no bread for 
weeks together, but we had plenty of pumpkins and potatoes, and all the ne- 
cessaries of life ; as for luxuries, we were not much concerned about them. 
We enjoyed health, the gospel and its ordinances and pious friends. We 
were in the place where we believed God would have us to be ; and we did 
not doubt, but that He would provide every thing necessarv ; and glory to his 
name, we were not disappointed." 

He was a man of vigorous bodily powers, and could endure labor or toil 
with any of his neighbors. On one occasion, having made appointments to 
preach at two places, and his horse having strayed away, he proceeded on 
foot, and fulfilled his appointments, by preaching at both places, and walking 
in all, seventeen miles for the purpose, on the Sabbath. 



139 

fere "with his more important duties, as a minister of the Gos- 
pel, to -which he gave all the energies of his body and mind." 

This great father of the Presbyterian Church, in the west, 
was not content with doctrinal and practical religious instruc- 
tion and pastoral visitation, to the people of his several pasto- 
ral charges, but at an early period after his removal to the 
west, in imitation of the log colleges of eastern Pennsylvania, 
and with the example before him of the Principals of those 
Seminaries, where he received his education, and training, he 
directed his attention to the establishment, in the western wilds, 
of a Log College, for the education of young men in the high- 
er branches of education, as well as of preparation of those of 
piety for the ministry. Like the Tennents, Blairs, Smith, and 
others, he erected near his own dwelling, a log building, of 
which he was to be the principal and instructor of young men. 

Among the early and eminent ministers and teachers, who 
penetrated into western Pennsylvania, was the Rev, Thaddeus 
Dod, from New Jersey, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New 
York. He removed to the Redstone settlement in 1778, taking 
up his abode at Fort Lenalley, on the border of what is now 
Virginia. The Fort was a place of shelter and defence, to the 
inhabitants of the settlement, against the Indian incursions, 
then frequent and alarming. His first preaching and admin- 
istering the ordinance of baptism, was within the Fort. The 
locality was the most perilous from Indian warfare, of any 
place in western Pennsylvania. Mr. Dod settled on a farm, in 
the neighborhood, and after a few years, a "meeting house " 
of hewn logs, was built near the Fort. He possessed a highly 
cultivated and well disciplined mind, "tlis power of concentra- 
tion, and of holding his thoughts closely upon any point, or 
subject of investigation, amidst any amount of external inter- 
ruption, was perhaps never exceeded." Not only was he an 
accurate classical scholar, thoroughly versed in the Latin, 
Greek and Hebrew languages, but a profound mathematician. 
Soon after his settlement in the vrest, he united with his great 
office of preaching the Gospel, the office of instructor of youth, 
in the higher branches of classical and scientific education. The 
settlers of this neighborhood, in 1781, united in putting up a 



140 

Log Academy. It would appear, from historical records, that 
Mr. Dod was the first in his efforts, in this wild country, to 
promote the cause of education. His pastoral charge was 
large, and received his faithful and diligent attention. In 
1789, he was appointed first Principal of Washington Acade- 
my, at Washington, Pa., which, in 1806, was merged into 
Washington College. The burning of the building in which 
this Academy was conducted, induced Mr. Dod to return to his 
first field of labor, where he died in 1793. His pupils held 
him in the highest respect, and "he had the happy faculty of 
infusing into those who were capable of it, an intense love of 
science and literature." When his various traits of character 
are considered, and the remarkable combination of talents 
found in him, all must admire the Providential dispensation 
that assigned to such a man, so useful and responsible, but yet 
perilous and self-denying charge. 

Amongst his first scholars, were the Rev. James Hughes, 
John Brice, James McGready, Samuel Porter, and Thomas 
Marshall, men of talent, piety, and usefulness in the ministry. 
The efforts of Rev. Mr. Dod, and Dr. Smith, in that western 
region, in education, may have preceded those of Dr. McMil- 
lan a short time ; and it would appear, that many young men, 
who had been studying under their direction, afterwards placed 
themselves under the instruction of Dr. McMillan, as to their lit- 
erary course, as well as their theological instruction. Dr. McMil- 
lan was the great patron of the Academy founded at Canonsburg, 
in 1792, and when it became a chartered College, it had, in him, 
a steady and faithful friend, throughout his life. For many 
years after his settlement in the west, he and his family were 
exposed to great privations and trials, and sometimes to such 
peril from the Indian enemy, as to compel them to seek shel- 
ter in the Fort. His ministerial labors were arduous, and 
greatly blessed. It is said, by a biographer, who knew him 
well, the late Rev. Dr. M. Brown, " that it was supposed that 
hundreds and even thousands, were, through his instrumental- 
ity, converted and trained up for heaven, and that perhaps one 
hundred ministers were trained, more or less, in his school of 
the prophets, many of whom were eminently useful." 



141 

He preached often, in 1833, the year of his death, in the 
eighty-second year of his age, and sixtieth of his ministry, on 
some occasions leaning on a crutch for the support of his aged 
frame.* 

The Rev. Joseph Smith, was an able coadjutor of Dr. Mc- 
Millan and Rev. James Power, J). D., in the great western 
field of ministerial labor. He had graduated at Princeton in 
1762, and was licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle, to 
preach the Gospel in 1767. After laboring for some years in 
the eastern settlements, and visiting the west, he accepted of 
a call from Cross creek and Buffalo, in western Pennsylvania. 
In 1780, he moved into the bounds of the latter, as their pas- 
tor. " He was a thorough classical scholar, of well disciplined 
mind, sound in the faith, abounding in piety and zeal in his 
ministerial work, in which his labors, as a pastor, were eminent- 
ly blessed, and though preaching was his great work, he was 
distinguished for his usefulness out of the pulpit, in catechet- 
ical instruction of the young, and in his earnest and affective 
conversation with his people about their eternal interests." 

The first school that was opened in the west, for training 
young men for the sacred ofiice of the ministry, was begun by 
Mr. Smith, at Buffalo, Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
about 1785. Mr. Smith had a small building erected in a 
corner of his garden, called " the students' room." In this, 
and the log cabin of Dr. McMillan, were educated in the west 
some men who were distinguished for their influence and use- 
fulness in society, and in the Church. Amongst these were 
the Rev. Messrs. William Swan, Samuel Porter, James Hughes, 
John Brice, David Smith, Joseph Patterson. The school for 
the languages and sciences was continued for some time, and 
then, by some mutual arrangement, was transferred, and or- 

* In the graTe yard of Charteirs, over his remains, is erected by the con- 
gregation, a tomb-stone, the following, is a part of the inscription ; " Erected 
in memory of the Eev. John McMillan, D. D., an able divine, a preacher of 
the first order. His distinguished talents, his active benevolence, his private 
virtue, his exalted piety, the skill and ability -which he displayed in instruct- 
ing, and training young men for the Gospel ministry, his indefatigable zeal in 
promoting his Master's cause, and the best interests of his fellow-men, have 
raised a monument to his fame, far more imperishable than the stone which 
bears this inscription. He was the leading founder of Jefferson College." 



142 

ganized near Canonsburg, under the care of Dr. McMillan, 
and out of which was raised Jefferson Collesro. 

The first Presbytery, organized in -western Pennsylvania 
was, in September, 1781, by the Rev. Messrs. John McMillan, 
James Power, and Thaddeus Dod, with their elders ; the Rev. 
Joseph Smith, being absent. It was called " the Presbytery 
of Redstone." The term " Redstone settlement," designated 
most of the countr}'' in south western Pennsylvania, claimed 
by Pennsylvania or Virginia, embracing what now constitutes 
the counties of Fayette, Washington, Green, and parts of 
Westmoreland, and Allegheny. The settlement took its name 
from that of a creek, which enters the Monongahela near 
Brownsville, a place of ancient notoriety, by the name of "Red- 
stone old Fort." 

The influx of emigrants, after the Revolution, was rapid, and 
continued from eastern Pennsylvania, as well as from Virgin- 
ia, with a considerable number direct from Ireland. The great 
mass were of Irish nativity, or descent, and members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Amongst them were adventurers, of coarse and uncultivated 
habits, ignorant and disorderly, looking to the chase for their 
pastime and occupation ; and content with a rude cabin, and a 
small patch of land for cultivation, to which there was no 
great attachment, when anything more advantageous, in the 
country presented itself, as an inducement to a removal. There 
were, however, as stated by reliable historians, in this western 
settlement, at the close of the Revolutionary war, and after, 
" a numerous class of persons, possessing a degree of refine- 
ment and intelligence, that would have no occasion to blush 
in the presence of any class of persons, native or otherwise, 
now to be found amongst us. Many of them continued to gath- 
er around them some of the usual appendages of a higher so- 
cial life. Throughout a portion of Westmoreland, Fayette 
and Washington counties, there were many gentlemen farmers 
of refined, easy manners, courtly in their address, social and 
hospitable, always ready to receive the ministers on their wea- 
ry journey to distant meetings, or to the destitute settlements." 
Thus with this class of families seated around them through 



143 

their respective fields of labor, the Presbyterian ministers 
were greatly aided in their eflForts for the general improvement 
of the domestic and social state of the country." In addition 
to this class, " there were amongst these settlers of the west, a 
still more numerous one, of plain, substantial, Scotch Irish 
people, who, though somewhat blunt and unpolished in their 
manners, yet for real kindness of disposition, integrity and hos- 
pitality, were not excelled by any of their descendants." 

Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the female sex of 
this middle class. There was a great energy of character, a 
patient endurance of the hardships of frontier life, and a cheer- 
ful submission to domestic privations, which entitle them to the 
grateful remembrance of the present generation." [Old Red- 
stone by Dr. Smith, 109.] 

It must be admitted by every candid inquirer, that the debt 
of gratitude owing by the western country, to the four mission- 
ary pioneers of south western Pennsylvania, was an immense 
one ; and which we, at this distant day, are unable to compute. 
Their memories should be regarded with reverence, as the great 
benefactors of their age. Men of talents and education, com- 
missioned by the courts of the Church to preach the everlasting 
Gospel, to their fellow-men, burning with missionary spirit and 
zeal, sought the destitute settlements of our western frontiery 
as the field of their labor. They were not held back by the 
superior comforts, associations and refinements of society, east 
of the mountain ranges, but with their families, at their own 
expense, traversed a wilderness of mountains, by the traders' 
or Indians' path, with toil, priyations, and fatigue, insurmount- 
able to all but men and women of uncommon energy, and res- 
olution, to be engaged in a good work. This great western 
field was only to be reached and occupied, at the peril of health 
and life, from exposure in a country of almost unbroken for- 
est, and with savage enemies roaming from time to time through 
its fastnesses, to way-lay, surprise and often massacre defence- 
less families. An overuling Providence directed their way, 
watched over, and guarded them and their families, on their 
perilous journey, and conducted them safely to the places of 
their destination on the frontier settlements. When there, the 



144 

same Almighty care was over them, to guard, and bless them 
in their labors in behalf of their fellow-men. Though labor- 
ing in season and out of season, their service in the work of 
their Divine Master was to them all, one of many years, and 
the two Messrs, Power and McMillan, who would seem to have 
first entered the service, had their lives prolonged to four 
score years and upwards. They were allowed to live to see 
their work prosper, and the fruits of their labors, in an extend- 
ed and flourishing Church, an educated and elevated ministry, 
and the pupils of their seminaries adorning the learned pro- 
fessions, and the halls of legislation, with men of education, 
learning, and usefulness. There was in the lives of these apos- 
tles to the frontier, an exalted manifestation of disinterested- 
ness, and personal sacrifice seldom equalled. They were the 
great instruments to promote the religious, moral and intellec- 
tual improvement of large and rapidly increasing settlements 
of American freemen and their families, and in elevating them 
to a degree in the scale of intelligence, refinement, enterprise, 
elevated Christian principle, and every virtue and quality, with 
the most favored communities of our great Commonwealth. 

The Rev. Mr. Doddridge, an Episcopal clergyman of esti- 
mation in western Virginia, and author of a work on the life 
and manners of the western settlers, states ; "That the minis- 
try of the Gospel has contributed, no doubt, immensely to the 
happy change which has been effected in the state of our 
western society. At an early period of our settlements, three 
Presbyterian clergymen commenced their clerical labors in our 
infant settlements : Rev. Joseph Smith, Rev. John McMillan 
and the Rev. James Power. They were pious, patient, labo- 
rious men, who collected their people into regular congrega- 
tions, and did for them all that their circumstances would al- 
low. It was no disparagement to them that their first church- 
es were the shady groves, and their first pulpits a kind of tent, 
constructed of a few rough slabs, covered with clapboards. He 
who dwelleth not exclusively in temples made with hands, was 
propitious to their devotions." After referring, with appro- 
bation, to the grammar schools, established at their own hous- 
es, or in their immediate neighborhoods, he bears his testimo- 



145 

nj to their success and usefulness, in establishing, first, Can- 
onsburg Academy, incorporated into Jefferson College, he 
says : "This institution has been remarkably successful in its 
operations. It has produced a large number of good scholars, 
in all the literary professions, and added immensely to the 
science of the country. Next to this, "Washington College has 
been the means of diffusing much of the light of science through 
the western country. Too much praise cannot be bestowed 
on these good men, who opened these fruitful sources of in- 
struction for our infant country, at so early a period of its 
settlement. They have immensely improved the departments 
of theology, law, medicine, and legislation in the western 
regions." 

This is impartial and high testimony, from a respectable and 
intelligent minister of another Christian denomination, to the 
character and usefulness of the Presbyterian ministers of the 
Scotch Irish race, who at an early day, entered western Penn- 
sylvania, when a wilderness, and whose labors and success were 
in the neighborhood of the dwelling of Mr. Doddridge, and of 
which he was for many years an observer. 

The usages of our State and National Governments have 
been, to accord for public services, to some of the distinguished 
actors in the land and naval armaments, their honors, and re- 
wards, by the resolutions of their legislative bodies, by votes of 
thanks, medals or swords. And sometimes the people, by the 
highest gift in their power, have elevated to the Presidency of 
the Republic, a successful General, with little regard to quali- 
fication for the office of Chief Magistrate of a constitutional 
government. Where death has conquered the conqueror of a 
host of his fellow-men by their slaughter, or captivity, there 
has been erected to his memory a monument of marble or 
bronze, to commemorate his deeds of human carnage. / 

The benefactors of their age, by deeds of philanthrophy, by 
their labors of love, in the religious, moral, and intellectual 
improvement of great communities of the people, over exten- 
sive districts of the[country, unprovided for by the government, 
are left only to the spontaneous effusions and gratitude of in- 
dividuals, or the communities, specially favored by their labors. 
10 



146 

What is there, in a Christian country, to elevate a military 
chieftain in public favor, above the faithful missionary in the 
service of the King of kings ? The military commander, in 
his march to the seat of war, when on the frontier, has his ac- 
companiments of soldiers, to pitch and strike his tent, have 
the care of his horse and baggage^ protect his person, minis- 
ter to his wants, and execute his orders, and when he reaches 
the country of the enemy, his toil, exposure and peril are often 
ended by a campaign of a few months, or a single battle, in 
which the fortunes of war, superior numbers, or military 
tactics, had given him a victory, to be applauded by his all- 
observing countrymen. 

It is to be deplored, that the tendencies of public sentiment, 
in our great Republic, should be so much to create a war spirit, 
foster and honor military prowess, place it in the front 
rank of public service, and make war and the army the high 
road to honor and distinction. The organization of our gov- 
ernment is adapted to peace, with the progress and pros- 
perity that are the growth of peaceful relations. War is 
not the element for its success and permanency, but should be 
considered and averted as a great calamity to the nation, un- 
less, when national honor and safety impose it. 

The missionary of the Gospel of peace, is a soldier of the 
cross, whose weapon is the sword of the Spirit, with the Bible 
for his shield and banner. His war is with ignorance, vice, 
sin and infidelity ; the conquest sought by him is not one of 
blood or death, but to bring all the enemies of God and man 
captive from death unto life, and from sin unto righteousness. 
His energy, fortitude, bravery, and zeal, are attested by toil, 
and exposure of life, not only in his solitary and perilous 
journeys in the country, traversed by savage enemies, or in the 
campaign of one season, or a single battle field, but by a long 
life of faithful and devoted service to his Divine Master. His 
reward is the satisfaction of doing that Master's work on 
earth, and he may hope for the recompense of reward to a 
faithful servant in the life to come, from the righteous Judge 
of the living and the dead. 

Ministers Plenipotentiary have been appointed from time to 



147 

time, and sent, by our national government, with expensive out- 
fits and salaries, to represent it in its foreign relations, to the 
European governments of the highest rank; and on some occa- 
sions, they have been honored with a passage across the ocean 
in a national ship ; and after living sumptuously, and enjoying 
the society of royalty, and nobility, for some years, returned 
to their country, and yet how few of these public characters, 
in all their diplomacy, have rendered to the welfare and pros- 
perity of their country, a tithe of the benefits rendered by more 
than oi>e of the Presbyterian ministers named, in the mission 
from the Church, to the frontier settlements of western Penn- 
sylvania, by their labor and services in extending religious and 
moral influence, and difi'using and elevating education. 

After the Revolutionary war was ended, and peace estab- 
lished, the emigration to western Pennsylvania increased rap- 
idly. The district of country, embracing the present counties 
of Westmoreland, Fayette, Allegheny, Washington and Green, 
was attractive to settlers from the counties of Chester, Lan- 
caster, York and Cumberland. Many of these were emigrants 
from Ireland, who had taken up their residence for a time, in 
the eastern part of the State, where they had sojourned, with 
their friends, or countrymen. Many emigrants also, as they 
arrived from Ireland, directed their way to the Scotch Irish 
settlements, rapidly progressing, in south western Pensylva- 
nia. The mass of these, were men of intelligence, resolution, 
energy, religious and moral character, having means that ena- 
bled them to supply themselves with suitable selections of land, 
for their residence and farm, and with the necessary stock and 
implements, for their accommodation. They were like their 
predecessors, eastof the mountains, agriculturists of substance 
and industry, who sought a place for the permanent abode of 
their families, and the means of supporting them. 

It is matter of some surprise, that so many substantial and 
respectable settlers, were attracted to such a residence at that 
time, west of the mountains, when there was so much land un- 
cultivated in the Kittochtinny valley, and other valleys, east 
of the Allegheny mountain, that were equally fertile, and so 
much more accessible, and more convenient to the eastern set- 



148 

tlements, and markets, as vroll as the land and other public 
offices, of the State government. These lands were to be pur- 
chased from individual holders, at moderate advances on the 
land office prices. We must suppose, that they had friends 
and relatives, who had preceded them, to the western waters,, 
whose association and neighborhood they preferred, and whose 
description of the country of their settlement, and its fresh and 
fertile soil, had in it much to attract them. We cannot say, 
at this day, they acted unwisel}'-, or that their circumstances 
and those of their familes, would have been improved by a res- 
idence east of the Allegheny mountain. The resolution, ener- 
gy, enterprise and industry, that enabled them to overcome the 
obstacles of a journey across the mountain ranges, and the toils, 
sacrifices, and perils, incident to settlements so remote from 
market and more advanced communities, as well as from gov- 
ernment aid and protection, formed in the men and women of 
those times, the characters most desirable and useful in this 
new and opening country, whose labors and perseverance con- 
verted the wilderness into well cultivated farms, constituted a 
barrier to savage incursions on the eastern settlements, organ- 
ized congregations of Christian worshippers, and established 
and maintained schools and seminaries of education. The ac- 
tivity and character of such a population, were not to end with 
the one generation. It was transmissible to descendants, who 
had been brought up under such training and education, as 
made them, in after times, the great pioneers and founders of 
settlements of the northwestern territory and the States form- 
ed out of it, in which these descendants of the Scotch Irish set- 
tlers of western Pennsylvania, were amongst the most promi- 
nent, useful, and distinguished citizens of the Republic. 

These settlers are not to be confounded with rambling set- 
tlers, who were generally in advance of civilization, and on the 
confines of the frontier, and who made their hasty settlement 
without office grant or right, putting up a rough cabin, as a 
shelter for their families, attached to which, was a small patch 
of clear land, for the cultivation of some garden vegetables 
and corn, depending on their guns for supply of meat for their 
families, and for the skins and furs, that furnished them some 
of their clothing and household articles, and were their staples 



149 

for sale or barter to the trader. This class of adventurers, 
who were, it is believed, more numerous on the confines of Vir- 
ginia, and adjacent, and who have been graphically described 
by the Eev. Mr. Doddridge, in his published notes, on their hab- 
its, condition, and education, were little better than the Indians, 
and were ready to sell the preemption, or inception of title, 
under their improvement, to some settler of more means, and 
of different habits and character, who was able and willing to 
pay the squatter an advance on his improvement, and take 
from the land office an official grant, predicated on the im- 
provement, as the inception of title. The improver, or squatter, 
thus selling, was ready, on short notice, to gather up his small 
stock of goods and chatties, and from his knowledge of the 
great extent of unimproved lands, in the country where he was 
accustomed to roam in pursuit of game, or his Indian foes, 
would set himself down on some other eligible tract of vacant 
land, and prosecute anew his speculating and roving propensi- 
ties, by erecting the small log cabin, to be occupied until it 
might, in time, be sold to advantage, to some exploring emi- 
grant, who was willing to purchase the possessory right to be 
confirmed by an official grant from the State, on the establish- 
ed terms of the law. 

Settlers of the same character are to be found, in these days, 
on the frontier of the United States, intruding on the public 
lands, as well as those of Indian reservation, before they are 
open to appropriation and sale. They claim a preemption, 
when the lands are offered for sale by the government, and 
intimidate all competition of purchasers, by threats of violence 
and bloodshed, which are sometimes put into barbarous execu- 
tion. They generally profess a willingness to sell out their 
preemption, which is often only a wrongful possession against 
law, and maintained in violation of law, but to which peaceful 
and orderly settlers are, for peace and safety, forced to submit. 
After sale, the roaming settler will renew and pursue his squat- 
ting propensities and uncivilized habits, in some more remote 
territory. 

Amongst the emigrants that removed to western Pennsyl- 
vania, after the Revolutionary war, were ministers of the 



150 

Gospel in the Presbyterian Church, educated in the Log Col- 
leges of eastern Pennsylvania, and graduates of Princeton 
College. Amongst these, -vvas the Rev. James Finley, of Irish 
nativity, educated in his classical studies at the Log College, 
under the Rev. Samuel Blair, where he was trained to an ac- 
curate scholarship in the languages. He was the brother of 
Dr. Finley, President of Princeton College. The Rev. James 
Finley removed to the Forks of Youghiogeny, in western Penn- 
sylvania, in 1783, where he was called and settled as a pastor 
in the Presbyterian Church. He had been licensed as a min- 
ister and officiated as such, for some years before, in eastern 
Pennsylvania, and had visited the Presbyterian congregations 
of west Pennsylvania, some years before his removal, to reside 
in that country. He was a man of eminent piety, and a devoted, 
faithful and excellent pastor. 

The Rev. James Dunlap, a native of Chester county, Penn- 
sylvania, receiving his early education in the schools of his 
neighborhood, graduated at Princeton College in 1773. He 
studied divinity under the Rev. James Finley, at east Notting- 
ham, before his removal to the west ; was licensed by the Pres- 
bytery of Donegal about '1781 ; ordained, sine titulo, by the 
Presbytery of New Castle, at Fagg's manor, in 1781, and 
shortly after removed to western Pennsylvania, where he was 
installed pastor of the Congregations of Laurel Hill and Dun- 
lap's creek. In 1803, he was chosen President of Jefferson Col- 
lege, a station which he held with great respect until 1811, hav- 
ing had conferred on him the title of Doctor of Divinity, by 
the Trustees of the College, with which he was connected. 
He was represented as a man of great piety, and eminent for his 
accurate attainments in classical literature, with which it is 
said, he was so familiar, as to have the ancient classics in his 
memory, to recite, or hear and correct the recital of others. 

There were several other ministers of the Presbyterian 
Church, educated in the Log Colleges of eastern Pennsylvania, 
some of whom graduated at Princeton College, directed their 
way, about the same time, to western Pennsylvania, as a field 
for their labor and services, and where their labors were great- 
ly blessed and successful. This great district of country, em- 



151 

bracing now six or more counties of distinction, wealth and 
influence in the State, would seem to have been peculiarly 
attractive to all classes of citizens, at an early day, many of 
whom, were eminent for talents, intelligence, learning, and 
usefulness. They disregarded the want of political, commer- 
cial, and social advantages, as enjoyed in eastern Pennsylva- 
nia, and would seem to have anticipated the improvements, 
that were to overcome the mountain barriers, and place them 
nearer to their State Capitol, as well as the seat of the Na- 
tional Government, eastern markets, and eastern associations. 
Amongst these was Arthur St. Clair, of Scotch nativity, 
who, as a military commander, settled at Fort Ligonier, where 
he was, at the organization of Westmoreland county, in 1773, 
of the Courts of which, he was appointed the first Clerk. 
Though esteemed for military talents of an high order, brave- 
ry, integrity, and patriotism, which elevated him to the rank 
of Major General in the army of the American colonies, yet 
misfortune marked him as her own, and his memorable defeat 
by the Indians, has always been regarded as a sad event in the 
history of the Republic, imputable more to the condition and 
supplies of the army, than want of Generalship, in the com- 
mander, who, at the time, was helpless in his tent, from dis- 
ease, and not able to mount his horse without assistance. 
Having served his country in many civil offices, with ability 
and fidelity, he died in Westmoreland county, in 1818, at the 

a^e of 84. 

Hugh Henry Brackenridge, of high reputation, as a scholar, 
lawyer, politician and jurist in Pennsylvania, removed to west- 
ern Pennsylvania, about 1781, as a place for his permanent 
abode. Having been brought by his parents from Scotland to 
York county, Pennsylvania, when he was a child ; his early ed- 
ucation was in the schools of his neighborhood, and pursued at 
Princeton College, where he graduated. He was licensed in 
the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, and served in the 
American army as a chaplain. Having relinquished the min- 
istry, and studied law, he entered on its practice in western 
Pennsylvania, when that country was little more than a wilder- 
ness. In his profession, he was prosperous, and distinguished. 



162 

In 1800 he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of 
the State, a station which he filled with ability, and which he 
retained until his death, in 1818. 

James Ross, of Pittsburg, eminent for talents and learning, 
and distinguished as a lawyer, advocate and statesman, emi- 
grated, a young man, from the Barrens of York county, to 
western Pennsylvania, shortly after the revolutionary war. 
He was a descendant of Scotch Irish parents, who had given 
him the plain education their circumstances and neighborhood 
afforded. By application, he advanced himself in his educa- 
tion, and for some time, was employed as a teacher. By pur- 
suing his studies, he soon qualified himself for admission to the 
bar. His great powers of mind, with industry and application, 
gave him a rank, as a lawyer, that had few equals, and as a 
member of the Pennsylvania State Convention, to form a Con- 
stitution for its government, and as a statesman, in the United 
States Senate, he was not surpassed. His high and merited 
reputation, made him a public man of celebrity, in Pennsylva- 
nia, and of much regard in other States. 

Alexander Addison, a Scotchman by birth, and education, 
was licensed as a minister, by a Presbytery of Scotland, and 
emigrated to the United States. He took up his abode in 
Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1784, as a Presbyterian 
minister. As such, he officiated there acceptably, to the Pres- 
byterian congregation in Washington, for some time, and they 
were desirous of having him for their permanent pastor. Mr. 
Addison there gave his attention to the study of the law, and 
withdrawing from the ministry, was admitted as an attorney 
of the Courts. His talents and superior acquirements, soon 
commanded attention and regard. In 1791, he was appointed 
the first President Judge of the Judicial District for that sec- 
tion of the State. He was a man of strong mind, great attain- 
ments, and undoubted integrity. His judicial opinions and 
charges to the Grand Juries of his District, are monuments of 
his sound judgment, legal learning, and political wisdom, as 
well as of his devotion to the peace, and good order of society, 
and the maintenance of the constitution and laws. Presiding 
at a time of great party excitement, and in a district where 



153 

there was an organized, unlawful, but popular opposition, to 
some of the laws, and constituted authorities of the national 
government, he made himself obnoxious to the factious multi- 
tudes, by his conservative principles, and the exercise of his 
judicial powers in the preservation of order, and submission to 
the laws of the government. He was somewhat impatient in 
temper, and could not be courteous to ignorance, combined 
with rudeness and presumption. 

Though impeached, and removed from his judicial station by 
a partisan Legislature of Pennsylvania, for frivolous cause, 
that did not impeach his integrity, he was dishonored less, in 
the estimation of a virtuous and intelligent community, than 
the public body, which unjustly sought to make him a victim to 
party persecution, and individual hostility.* 

Albert Gallatin, a Swiss young man of talents and learning, 
Tvho had graduated at Geneva, in Switzerland, sought a home 
in the American republic, and after visiting several parts of 
the United States, between 1783 and 1785, by the advice of 
his friends, selected a place on the banks of the Monongahela, 
within the present county of Fayette, Pennsylvania, for his 
residence. As soon as he became known in that humble re- 
tirement, his talents and acquirements obtained for him the 
public respect and confidence. As early as 1789, he was 
elected, from the district of his residence, a member of the 
Convention to amend the Constitution of Pennsylvania, which 
brought him to public notice, as a man of abilities and learn- 
ing. His subsequent life was one of official service, in the 
highest stations in the gift of the people, or in the appointment 
of the government, with the exception of the Presidency. His 
abilities, as a statesman, financier, and diplomatist, were ac- 
knowledged by the country, and are familiar to all who are 
conversant with the history of our government. 

William Findlay, of the county of Westmoreland, settled in 
that county about the close of the Revolutionary war. He 
was an emigrant from Ireland, who had first settled on the 

* " Alexander Addison was the President of the Courts in four counties, 
and I venture to say, that a more intelligent, learned, upright and fearless 
Judge was not to be found in the State." [Dr. Carnahan.] 



154 

Conococheague, in the Kittochtinny valley, about 1764. Ills 
means were small, and he there followed the humble occupa- 
tion of a weaver. He was of limited early education, but of 
strong intellect, which he cultivated by reading and reflection. 
He acquired a knowledge of history and government, which 
made him an active and influential member of society, in its 
relations, and in all public measures. As a public man, he 
was respected for sagacity, experience and judgment. The 
confidence of the community, in his patriotism and judgment, 
was manifested where he resided, by his selection as one of 
the Council of Censors of the State government under the 
Constitution of 1776. He was a member of the Convention 
that formed the Constitution of 1790, and represented the 
district in which he resided, in other official stations of distinc- 
tion and responsibility. 

Scotch Irish families moved to this western district, during 
and immediately after, the Revolutionary war, in great num- 
bers. In these families, were members, who united piety with 
intelligence, and a desire to cultivate their minds, and who, 
under the teachings and direction of the Rev. Messrs. Smith, 
McMillan, and Dod, qualified themselves, by their studies, for 
the ministry, to which, after proper probation and trial, they 
were admitted. Many of them were distinguished for ability 
and learning, as well as their aptness to teach, and their faith- 
ful devotion and labor as pastors ; amongst whom, were the 
Rev. Joseph Patterson, Rev. Samuel Porter, Rev. Robert 
Marshall, of Irish nativity, Rev. James Hughes, Rev. John 
Brice, Rev. James McGready, Rev. Elisha McCurdy, of Irish 
descent, and others. 

The praise of these men is still in the congregations, in 
which they were ministers, laboring faithfully, acceptably, and 
usefully. To these were added many other Presbyterian min- 
isters of education, learning and piety, from the eastern part of 
the State, licensed by the Presbyteries of Donegal and Car- 
lisle. We cannot give a sketch of their usefulness and labors, 
without extending this article beyond our proper limits.* 



* The reader is referred, for full and very interesting information, respect- 
ing the incidents of their lives, in this western field, to Dr. Elliot's life of 
McCurdy, and others, and to " Old Bedstone," by Dr. Smith. 



155 

In this western country, there were, at the close of the last 
century, and immediately before, a large amount of intelli- 
gence, with religious and moral character, as well as means and 
opportunities of literary, scientific, and theological education 
for young men, who would seek it, not as a pastime, for a por- 
tion of their life, but to be seduously improved to the acquisi- 
tion of knowledge, with mental cultivation and discipline. 

The great majority of the early settlers, manifested their 
satisfaction with their residence in this wild country, by 
making it their homes until death. We may, at this day, 
wonder at the contentment of intelligent and highly cultivated 
minds, so much to be admired, in the midst of privations, 
which, in this age, would be considered as beyond endurance, 
by any who could withdraw themselves from them, and obtain 
a residence, where there were more comforts, and social enjoy- 
ments. 

The occupation of almost all, was agriculture ; tlieir taste 
rural; like their friends of the Kittochtinny valley, they had 
no partiality for towns and villages, which, when established, 
it was only in compliance with some special necessity, and the 
public wanted the accommodation. Yv^estmoreland county was 
organized in 1773, embracing all south western Pennsylvania. 
The place appointed for holding of its Courts, and county 
Offices, was Hanna's town, a small village, and the only one in 
the district. It was situated on the old Forbes army road, 
distant but a few miles from the present town of Greensburg, 
afterwards located there. Hanna's town consisted of about 
thirty log houses and cabins, including a log Court House and 
Jail. The Courts for this large district, were only held at this 
place, and before Justices of the Peace. This was at a time 
when Virginia claimed this village, as well as nearly all West- 
moreland county, as being her territory ; and in maintenance 
of her jurisdiction and authority, had established her Courts at 
a place, south a few miles, of where the town of Washington is 
located, and also where Brownsville now is, in the county of 
Fayette. There were at this period, but a few log cabins or 
dwellings adjacent to Fort Pitt. The conflict between these 
territorial claims of the two governments, were harassing to 



156 

the settlers under Pennsylvania, who, as well as the officers, 
and magistrates, under its government, were subjected to fre- 
quent arrest, and imprisonment, by persons under the author- 
ity and command of Dunmore, the abitrary Governor of Vir- 
ginia. These conflicts were kept up for some years, and even 
after the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and until 
the royal Governor of Virginia, preferring to retain his 
rank, and the royal service, to a republican government, fled 
as a fugitive from Virginia, to the shelter of the army of 
his King. This conflict of jurisdiction, and of the officers of 
the law, were, after this, in a great measure, suspended in the^ 
district, by mutual forbearance and accommodation. The title 
to lands was uncertain, and embarassing to the settlers, and 
to those who were desirous of purchasing, or making an appro- 
priation under the government, until the boundary line was 
permanently established in 1784, by which Pennsylvania juris- 
diction and right were quieted, and confirmed, over this large 
district of fertile and valuable country. 

The settlers were for many years during the Revolution, 
and for a long time after, exposed to Indian invasions, alarm- 
ing ravages, and massacres, and for the defence of themselves 
and families, against the savage enemy, the government made 
little provision, and left them, in a great measure, to their own 
resources. 

Their means of conveyance and transportation, from the 
eastern settlements and markets, were the pack horse, by the 
traders' paths, across mountain ranges of great extent, not ad- 
mitting of wheel carriages. Their trade to New Orleans, was 
tedious and perilous, for many hundred miles, through a hos- 
tile Indian country, and their return from New Orleans was 
either by sea, to the Atlantic cities, or by traversing the west- 
ern wilderness for two thousand miles. 

Their merchandize, and groceries, with iron and salt, were 
brought across the mountains on pack horses, from Chambers- 
burg, Hagerstown, or Winchester. The first wagon that pass- 
ed over this barrier of mountain ranges, to these western set- 
tlements, was in 1789, from Hagerstown to Brownsville. It 
was drawn by four horses, carrying two thousand pounds, and 



157 

was near a month on the road, of about one hundred and thirty 
miles. 

The first newspaper published west of the Allegheny moun- 
tains, was the "Pittsburg Gasette," in 1786, by John Scull and 
Joseph Hall. At that time there was no mail to the district ; 
all correspondence was carried on by special express, or casual 
travellers and traders. In the fall of 1786, the first post was 
established from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, and one from Vir- 
ginia, to meet the other at Bedford. 

The county of Washington was not organized until 1781, 
and the town of Washington within it, laid out in 1782, at a 
place known as an Indian village, called Catfish, from the 
name of its Indian Chief, who had resided there at an early 
day. 

The town of Pittsburg, was laid out in 1784, by agents of 
the old Proprietary family, on a reserved manor; yet its inhab- 
itants had to attend their Courts at Greensburg, until 1788, 
when Allegheny county was erected. 

In 1786, Pittsburg contained but thirty six log houses, one 
stone, and one frame house, and in it there were five small 
stores. 

Hanna's town, the principal and only town in the district, was 
attacked by the Indians, in 1782, captured and burned, with 
its log Court House, Offices and Jail. Its inhabitants having 
taken shelter in the adjacent stockade fort, escaped the fury 
of the savages, through the stratagem, bravery and manage- 
ment of a few settlers sheltered iu it, and who were practised 
in Indian warfare. 

Merchandize and groceries were obtained for family use, 
from merchants, established in various parts of the country, 
who obtained their supplies from the eastern cities and towns, 
through the traders and carriers by pack horses. 

It is matter of history, that the paper on which the " Pitts- 
burg Gazette " was printed, was brought on pack horses for 
some years from Chambersburg, where it was manufactured ; 
and that in 1792, the publishers, not receiving their expected 
supply by the pack horse carrier, who reported, "No paper 
finished," Mr. Scull borrowed from the keepers of the public 



158 

stores, three reams, for a number of his paper, until the pack 
horses would again return from Chambersburg. 

Fayette county, was organized in 1783, yet Uniontown, 
which consisted of a few log buildings, did not improve much 
until after 1796. The transportation of merchandize across 
the mountains, and the necessary articles of iron and salt, con- 
tinued by pack horses, until near the close of the last centui*y. 
As late as 1796, at Chambersburg, pack horses were loaded 
with various articles for the west, including bar iron. In that 
year, the first paper mill, west of the mountains, was erected 
at Brownsville, and until it was in operation, the paper mill at 
Chambersburg supplied the entire west with paper, including 
Kentucky. 

The first stage coach was established from Chambersburg to 
Pittsburg, in 1804, over a rough and narrow mountain road, 
opened a little by the townships, with the aid of contributions 
from some citizens of public spirit, on or near the line. The 
turnpike roads, from the east sids of the mountains to Pitts- 
burg and Brownsville, were constructed for public use about 
1820. 

With all the disadvantages and privations enumerated, the 
western district filled up rapidly, with industrious, enterpris- 
ing, resolute and intelligent inhabitants, who were not deterred 
by such obstacles, and who were willing to risk their fortunes 
in this land of promise, though forbidding, in many respects. 

The predominant element of character in the population of 
this western district, was that of Scotch Irish origin. The great 
mass of it was of Irish and Scotch nativity, or descent. The 
influence, peculiarities, and policy of that race were manifested 
in the progress, improvements, and institutions of the commu- 
nity, spread over this wide district. Inhabits, taste, religious 
and moral character, political sentiments, and social condition, 
they resembled much the same race that peopled the Kittoch- 
tinny or Cumberland valley of Pennsylvania. 

Like it, they were still more remote from the offices, atten- 
tion, supervision or provision of the State government. Their 
patriotism was exhibited as early as 16th May, 1775, at a pub- 
lic meeting of the inhabitants of Westmoreland county, con- 



I 



159 

vened at Hanna's town, in which they denounced the British 
ministry as wicked, and the Parliament corrupt, and the acts 
agninst Massachusetts Bay, as a system " of tyranny and op- 
pression, and that they were ready to oppose it with their lives 
and fortunes."* British policy and cruelty having instigated 
the savages on our western frontier, to renew their hostilities on 
the frontier settlements, compelled all the men of Westmoreland, 
fit for military service, to remain near their homes, to defend 
the country, during the Revolutionary war, against the incur- 
sions of the many tribes of Indians that dwelled and roamed 
between the Ohio and Allegheny waters and the Lakes. 

In that defence, they were exercised by frequent alarms 
from the savages, who frequently stole their way, unobserved 
into the settlements, surprising families, and marking their 
way with fire and bloodshed. After Independence, children 
were often carried off captive to Detroit, still in possession of 
the British, contrary to treaty, where they were permitted to 
be sold. After their depredations, the Indians, in their ac- 
customed warfare, made a hasty retreat by their byways across 
the Ohio. The continued state of alarm, and great insecurity 
of the families of the settlers, induced the erection of stockade 
forts and block houses, for shelter and defence. The men had 
their firearms always ready for use, and generally in their 
hands or at their sides, in their occupations in or near their 
farms and dwellings. 

The State government, or the Confederation, were not in con- 
dition to afford the necessary relief or protection. The obli- 
gations of the whole country and the State and National gov- 
ernments was great, to the brave and resolute men, who, in 
the midst of many alarms and perils, to their lives and that of 
their families, defended that frontier, against the incursions of 
powerful tribes of savages, and in so doing, relieved the settle- 
ments east of the mountains, from the murderous attacks of 
this terrible enemy. For this interposition and defence, these 
men received no adequate requital, either in land or in money. 
These harassing wars of the Indians, were continued until 

* Amcr. Archives, 4th Series, Vol. 2, page 615, 



160 

Wayne's victory, in 1794, vihich. subdued tlie Indians, and gave 
security and permanent peace to the settlements. 

Yet, with privations, sacrifices and trials, so many and great, 
this •western district increased rapidly in population, improve- 
ment, and resources. The great majority of the people were 
contented and reconciled to the country they had selected for 
their abode. The great instrumentality in the improvement 
of this increasing and wide spread community, in religious, 
moral, intellectual and social condition, were the Presbyterian 
ministers, who have been referred to, as the great pioneers 
in extending religious influence and congregational organiza- 
tions for Christian worship, and in extending and diffusing ed- 
ucation. 

The youth were educated at home, in the rudiments of 
knowledge, under parental instruction, and trained to obedi- 
ence and subordination, as the unbending In^' of the family. 
They learned there the great truths of the Gospel, and " what 
man was to believe concerning God, and what duty God re- 
quires of man." The schools established by Presbyterian min- 
isters, in which they were instructors, as well as the principal ; 
or which were under their supervision, confirmed and extended 
the home education. The scholars of these schools were de- 
sirous of improving their minds, adding, by application, to 
their knowledge, and profiting under all the facilities and 
means they enjoyed, for their instruction. The habits of obe- 
dience and subordination that were established at home, were 
brought into the school room, in all their force. 

The pastors of congregations, or the missionaries of the 
Church, by their influence and knowledge, cooperated in the 
great work of religious and moral instruction, by their teach- 
ings and exhortations, which were regarded with reverence, as 
those of learned and pious men, commissioned by the courts of 
the Presbyterian Church. 

The impress of such instrumentalities, was not only mani- 
fested in the families of church members, but by association 
and influence extended beyond the pale of organized congre- 
gations ; and their tendency was to reform, and elevate public 
sentiment, and morals, as well as the habits and manners of 



161 

the people. The great success of the. ministers, in the early 
history of this new country, is evidence of the Divine blessing 
and sanction, which accompanied and impressed their labors. 

The old Redstone Presbytery, in 1781, embraced within its 
bounds, old Westmoreland, as called, which then included all 
southwestern Pennsylvania. There were then in it but four 
Presbyterian ministers. Such has been the increase of Pres- 
byterian influence and organization, that by the census of 
1850, there is reported in this district of the Presbyterian 
Church, in all its branches, 204 churches.* 

As has been stated, classical schools were early established by 
the founders of the Redstone Presbytery, at Canonsburg, "Wash- 
ington and some other places. These, under the patronage of 
the Presbyterian ministers, and Scotch Irish settlers of the 
district, were elevated to the Colleges of Washington and Jef- 
ferson. JcflfeJl'a College, at Canonsburg, has been eminent- 
ly useful in extending education in the great west. Its grad- 
uates have held a high place in the ministry, and in the pro- 
fessions of law and medicine, and it has given a superior educa- 
tion to many respectable citizens of various occupations. Jef- 
ferson College has educated nearly six hundred young men for 
the ministry, during fifty-three years of existence, of whom it 
is said, thirty-five have entered the foreign field. 

Washington College has also been instrumental in giving to 
the country a number of graduates of distinction and useful- 
ness. Both these Institutions have been under Presbyterian 
influence and direction. 

There was established, many years since, a Theological Sem- 
inary at Canonsburg, under the direction of the Associate 
Presbyterian Church, and it is still maintained. 

At Pittsburg there was established something more than 
thirty years since, the Western University of Pennsylvania, 
which has graduated a large number of students, a great pro- 
portion of whom devoted themselves to the ministry of the 
Gospel, in one or other branch of the Presbyterian Church. 
About the same time, was established in Allegheny city, the 

* Allegheny 69, Washington 48, Westmoreland 29, Fayette 19, Green 10, 
Indiana 29. 

11 



162 

Western Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, 
founded by its General Assembly, and under its care and di- 
rection. It has a faculty of able and learned Professors. 
About the same time the Theological Seminary of the Asso- 
ciate Reformed Church, and also the Allegheny Theological 
Institute of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, were estab- 
lished in Allegheny city, being Presbyterian Institutions. 
These have been under the direction of men distinguished as 
Theologians, and the purposes of the Institutions were to pre- 
pare, by education, candidates for the ministry, in their sever- 
al ecclesiastical associations, in such manner as would qualify 
them for the important office of ministers of the Gospel. 

In other counties within this district, have been established 
Academies, furnishing a classical education to those of the 
county that were desirous of it. 

It is believed that this rural district of Pennsylvania, under 
the workings of its Scotch Irish element, will compare with 
any rural district of the Union, in the advancement of religious 
institutions and Christian instruction, and in intellectual and 
moral education, internal improvement, social order, good mor- 
als, public spirit and patriotism. 

Mr. Day, in his Collections, speaking of Washington county, 
says : " That the citizens, generally descendants of the Scotch 
Irish, are noted as an orderly, well educated, and church going 
people ; and the best evidence of this, is the number and flour- 
ishing state of the colleges, seminaries, and benevolent institu- 
tions of the town and its vicinity."* This commendation is 
from a descendant of the Puritans, who, in his historic work, as 
before referred to, has exhibited no partiality for the Scotch 
Irish race of Pennsylvania. 

In the early history of this district of Pennsylvania, there 
is a dark side not to be overlooked. That great political and 
moral offence committed by a large portion of their people, 
against the peace, laws and government of the United States, 
in the years 1792, 3, and 4, by an organized opposition, in re- 
sistance of those laws, imposing a tax on distillation of whiskey, 



* Day's Hist. Col., 664. 



163 

known as the western insurrection, or whiskey war, was too 
notorious and reprehensible to be allowed to pass into oblivion. 
The combinations in the counties of Washington and Alle- 
gheny, were large and influential, to obstruct the execution of 
the laws, in doing which, violent acts were perpetrated against 
the persons and property of the officers of the national govern- , 
ment. The opposition commenced with the avowed purpose 
of having repealed, by Congress, this law, as inexpedient, im- 
politic, unequal and oppressive in its operation, and especially 
obnoxious to the people of this district. Yet this was not 
enough to satisfy the views and designs of some unprincipled 
and ambitious leaders, who sought a prominence and distinc- 
tion in public favor, by availing themselves of the hostility 
with the western people to this particular law, and excited the 
prejudices of the people against the national government, its 
measures, and the party who administered it, at the head of 
which government was then the father of his country. 

That they might be elevated to power and rule, these dema- 
gogues were willing to involve the country in a civil war, and 
pull down the pillars of the Republic. The tendency of their 
measures was to subvert the government. Though they advo- 
cated in some of their public meetings, military organization 
and resort to arms, yet, fortunately for the public peace, there 
were in those meetings, some more judicious and honest men, 
who had not cast off their patriotism and allegiance, were not 
ready for " treason or rebellion," and had influence sufficient 
to restrain the people from giving support to the violent and 
treasonable measures of profligate leaders. 

Congress had amended the laws complained of, so as to make 
them as little objectionable as was allowable to be effective, and 
the administration had exhausted all its means of conciliation 
with the insurgents, without success. The civil authority was 
found totally incompetent to execute the laws, and maintain the 
public peace. There was no alternative left to the Executive 
government, but a choice between submission to lawless combi- 
nations against the government and laws, or to execute the 
laws passed by the Representatives of the people, in conform- 
ity to the Constitution, with all the powers confided to the 
Chief Magistrate of the Republic. 



164 

The National government, under the Federal constitution, 
^as then in its infancy : an experiment on trial ; but for- 
tunately for the country, at such a crisis, Washington was at 
the head of the government. Whilst the President took mea- 
sures to call out the militia to suppress the insurrection, he 
expressed his deep regret at the occasion, but ■with the most 
solemn conviction, that the essential interests of the Union de- 
manded it, that the very existence of the government and the 
fundamental principles of social order were involved in the 
issue, the insurgents were, by proclamation, required to dis- 
perse, and retire to their respective homes. 

The President, though firm and decided to execute the laws 
and maintain the government, made, in the midst of prepara- 
tion for military organization, a peaceful effort to bring the 
disaffected, to a sense of their duty, appointing three commis- 
sioners of talents and integrity, to repair to the scene of insur- 
rection, and confer with them, promising amnesty, in case of 
submission to the laws. In this they were unsuccessful, and 
the President was under the painful necessity of putting the 
military force in motion. 

It is not within our proposed limits, or purpose, to give a 
detail of the movements of the insurgents, or the military ope- 
rations that became necessary. When the alternative was im- 
posed on Washington, as President, of executing the law, and 
maintaining the government, he was as firm and decided, as he 
had before been mild and conciliating. His call for a military 
force, adequate to . the occasion, was cheerfully, as well as 
promptly obeyed by the people. By his wise and energetic 
measures, and the presence of his person, with the army of 
citizen soldiers, of all classes and occupations, this formidable 
insurrection was suppressed without bloodshed, and the laws 
and government maintained. Bradford, the prominent agita- 
tor and leader, made his escape, as a fugitive from justice, into 
the Spanish dominions. Two other of the principal insurgents, 
Philip Vegol and John Mitchell, were tried for treason and 
found guilty, but afterwards pardoned by the President. 

President Washington, in his speech to Congress, remarked, 
that the promptitude, with which his call for support from his 



165 

fellow citizens had been obeyed, demonstrated, that they un- 
derstood the true principles of government and liberty, and 
'" that, notwithstanding all the devices which have been used to 
sway them from their interest and duty, they are now as ready 
to maintain the authority of the laws against licentious inva- 
sions, as they were to defend their rights against usurpation." 
In the extenuation of the great public offence committed in 
this district, regard must be had to the condition of the coun- 
try, and the circumstances of the people, at the time. They 
had, during the Kevolutionary war, and for many years after, 
been left, in a great measure, defenceless, by both National 
and State governments, which had been disabled by embarass- 
ments arising out of the war, to afford the aid required by this 
isolated and exposed district. Nothing had been done to im- 
prove the means of communication, or transportation to the 
eastern markets. As agriculturists, they could not carry their 
grain entire to market on their pack horses; and because it could 
not be transported to New Orleans, but with great danger, delay, 
and uncertainty, they were driven to the necessity of reducing 
the products of their farms, to the most portable size by dis- 
tillation. Yet they were not an intemperate people. Intem- 
perance was not the vice of those times, we are assured by Dr. 
Smith, in his history of the Redstone Presbytery.* "The oppo- 
sition to the law, imposing duties on distillation, was not 
chargeable to any special fondness, with the people, for the 
intemperate use of whiskey. It was the result of a delusion, 
respecting their rights, and an impression that they were wrong- 
fully and oppressively taxed in the very article, which alone 
they could turn to account in trade, and commerce, and there- 
by secure for themselves and families, the very necessaries of 
life." This delusion was fomented and encouraged by their 
ambitious and profligate leaders, who used it to excite the peo- 
ple against all the measures of the National government, and 
although the mass of the people who were disaffected, never 
dreamed of carrying their opposition to the measures of gov- 
ernment to forcible resistance, yet many, by attending their 



■» Old Redstone, 252. 



166 

unlawful assemblies, aided to create a tumultuous and treason- 
able movement, which they could not afterwards repress, or 
allay, as they desired. With the leaders, it was practical nul- 
lification, under their organization, for resistance to the exe- 
cution of the law, by violence to, and personal abuse of its ofii- 
cers. The abuse by these leaders and their partizan confeder- 
ates, of all who advised moderate measures for redress, under 
the constitution, intimidated many orderly and law abiding 
citizens, from an expression of their opinions. 

In the midst of this great excitement and delusion, there 
was not, in any public meeting, a leader so bold aa to threaten 
disunion, or suggest it, as desirable or possible. They were 
well aware, that the public virtue and patriotism of the coun- 
try, would recoil from any decided approach to it; and that the 
man who would be so base and unfaithful to his country, as to 
propose it, would be made to sink under the weight of public 
odium, and if thereafter notorious, it would be by the finger of 
public scorn, directed to him. In those days no one undertook 
to calculate the value of the Union. It was esteemed price- 
less. It was reserved for the small politicians and noisy dem- 
agogues of these days of boasted progress, to seek elevation 
and influence in communities disaffected with some legislation, 
to talk of and threaten in public assemblies, dissolution of the 
union, with as much flippancy, presumption and indifference, 
as they would talk of dissolving some petty partnership of their 
own formation. Public virtue and patriotism would seem to be 
on the wane in our experimental republic, when such senti- 
ments are tolerated without a general burst of indignation. 

It is stated by Dr. Smith, in his remarks on that disreputa- 
ble public movement in opposition to the government, that few 
of the Presbyterians joined in the movement, and that all 
their ministers opposed it strenuously and successfully. 
* Mr. Pindlay, who was somewhat implicated, in some of the 
first movements of these unlawful assemblies, states, in refer- 
ence to a public meeting at Couche's Fort, " That while they 
were deliberating, what was to be done, the Rev. Mr. Clark, 
a venerable and very old clergyman, (of the Presbyterian 
Church) expostulated with them on the impropriety of the en- 



167 

terprise, and used his utmost endeavors to dissuade them from 
it." He has also, in his history of that insurrection, borne his 
testimony to " the industry of the clergy, in promoting sub- 
mission to the laws," and states several instances of it. 

Judge Brackenridge, who was well acquainted with the in- 
fluences exciting insurrection, or dissuading it, states in his 
history, that "great pains were taken, particularly by the 
clergy, in various congregations, to restrain it. The Rev. 
Samuel Porter, the Rev. John McMillan, and others, had froiu 
the first, borne a decided testimony against the forcible oppo- 
sition to the laws." " Previous to the day of giving the test of 
submission to the government, Mr. McMillan, having appoint- 
ed a day for giving the sacrament of bread and wine, adjourn- 
ed the celebration until it could be known who would submit, 
meaning to exclude those from the ordinance who should re- 
main obstinate, and refuse this declaration of fidelity. He 
attended himself on the day of submission and used his imme- 
diate influence." 

James Edgar, an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, and 
one of the Associate Judges of Washington county, distinguish- 
ed for sound sense, piety and purity of character, as well as 
for his unpretending eloquence, addressed the assemblies of 
the people with great power and influence, on the side of the 
law, public order and submission. Dr. Carnahan, in his lec- 
ture on the whiskey insurrection, says of Mr. Edgar : " This 
truly great and good man, little known beyond the precincts 
of Washington county, had removed to western Pennsylvania 
at an early period. He had a good English education ; had 
improved his mind by reading and reflection, so that in the(?- 
logical and political knowledge, he was superior to many pro- 
fessional men. He had as clear a head, and as pure a heart, 
as ever fall to the lot of mortals ; and he possessed an elo- 
quence, which, although not polished, was convincing and per- 
suasive. Yet he lived in retirement on his farm, except when 
the voice of his neighbors called him to serve the Church or 
State. He was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, 
and one of the Associate Judges of Washington county. I re- 
collect to have heard him at Bufi'alo, on Monday after a sacra- 



168 

mental occasion, address a congregation of at least two thou- 
sand people, on the subject of the insurrection, with a clear- 
ness of argument, and solemnity of manner, and a tenderness 
of Christian eloquence, which reached the understanding, and 
penetrated the heart of every hearer. The consequence was, 
that very few in his neighborhood, were concerned in the law- 
less riots." 

Judge Edgar was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 
the congregation of Slate Ridge, in 1744, and removed to 
western Pennsylvania in 1779. 

Whilst we have expressed commendation of the principles 
and character of the early settlers of this western district of 
Pennsylvania, we felt bound to notice the great criminal move- 
ment, in opposition to the laws and public authorities, as de- 
tracting much from the character of a people of religious, mor- 
al and law abiding professions. The unlawful and riotous as- 
semblies, in their midst, with measures of violence, were not 
only a reproach to all who participated in them, as actors, or 
abetted them in any manner, but were a reflection on the com- 
munity in which they were allowed, that there was not in that 
community sufficient religious, moral, law respecting, and pa- 
triotic influence, to have restrained the bad men, who were 
amongst them, in their wicked and lawless measures against 
the laws and public peace. 

The men who were actors in the insurrectionary movements 
of those days, as well as those who permitted them, have, with 
a rare exception, been carried to their graves, with the stigma 
on their skirts, which half a century has not effaced. Their 
descendants, who are now the citizens of those counties, that 
were the theatre of these disorderly and criminal proceedings, 
are an orderly and law abiding people. The deeds of their an- 
cestors, in allowing their arms to be raised against their gov- 
ernment, are only to be remembered to be deplored, and that 
all such measures, or an approach to them, shall be avoided by 
them, as the reproach and crime that mark, and are imputable 
to the enemies of the Republic. 

It is a grave and important question, to be settled by politi- 
cians and statesmen, in time of tranquility, whether clemency 



169 

to ojffenders, against the authority of the laws, and the exis- 
tence of society and government, have not, in the administra- 
tion of the federal government, been carried too far, for the 
peace and safety of the public," as well as for the authority of 
the laws. All those who, in times past, have raised their arms 
in violence, or conspired to resist by force the laws of the gov- 
ernment and its constituted authorities, have been allowed to 
escape the penalties of the law for their crimes, through Exec- 
utive clemency and pardon. The safety and permanence of 
the Republic, forbid that an ill judged benevolence shall permit 
such high crimes to be perpetrated with impunity. The ne- 
cessity of example, for such offenders, is as requisite as it is 
for the lesser crimes, against the public peace and security, and 
if the law, in the hands of a faithful Chief Magistrate, be car- 
ried into execution against insurgents and traitors, the public 
peace will more rarely be violated by unlawful assemblies, and 
the existence of society and government not be endangered by 
unlawful, organized combinations of men, with their leaders, 
in resistance. With a known measure of punishment before 
them, to be executed upon all such offenders, without fear or 
favor, men will be more submissive to the constituted authori- 
ties and laws, passed in conformity to the constitution, and 
abstain from a resistance that will be subdued ; whilst the of- 
fenders receive the punishment inflicted by the law. Partizans 
and demagogues will be as little disposed then to threaten re- 
bellion, nullification and disunion, as tliey would be to boast, 
in public assemblies, of tkeir purpose to murder their neighbors, 
burn their houses, or pick their pockets. 

The western insurrection, and other unlawful combinations 
in Pennsylvania, to oppose the laws of the Union, since its 
formation, are a slur on its citizens and government. If our 
great Commonwealth is to maintain the position in the Union, 
which she ought to have in regard to her population and territo- 
ry, it will be necessary, in all time to come, to manifest her 
regard for it, by repressing, with her own power and authority, 
every appearance, amongst her citizens, of organized combina- 
tion, to resist by violence and numbers, the execution of the 
laws of the National and State governments. 



170 

Let the weight of the law and public authority, be laid upon 
it in its inception, and let a well directed public sentiment 
sustain the public oflScers, in the faithful execution of their du- 
ty, without regard to party or political associations and names. 
By so doing, the riotous insurgent, the wicked traitor, and 
turbulent demagogue, will learn that their criminal measures 
and designs against the government of the people, and its free 
institutions, will be as futile as they are infamous. 

From the Scotch Irish settlements of eastern, middle, and 
western Pennsylvania, have emigrated, in countless numbers, 
intelligent, resolute, and energetic descendants of Irish and 
Scotch ancestors, who, for the last half century, have con- 
tributed greatly to settle, and make up the population of many 
western States, bordering on the Ohio and Mississippi. 

They located themselves beside the descendants of the Pu- 
ritans, as well as others of German origin. The communities 
thus formed, have been harmonious, respectable and influen- 
tial, giving tone to public morals, political sentiment, social 
advantages, elevated education and religious organizations. 
The descendants of the Irish and Scotch, in whatever district 
they may have cast their lot and fixed their stakes, are amongst 
the most prominent, virtuous, religious, active, useful, indus- 
trious, and enterprising of the community. They have proved 
by their faith and works, that they are not of ignoble blood and 
descent, nor below any class of the citizens of this land, with 
whom they may be compared, in their principles, virtuous hab- 
its, and public usefulness, or in those of their ancestors. 

Though Pennsylvania has not elevated one of her own sons 
to the Presidency of the United States, yet the Scotch Irish race 
of the Union has furnished to that Presidency three of our 
Presidents, and a majority of the United States Senators, since 
the organization of the federal government. They have also, 
from their ranks, in Pennsylvania, given to our Commonwealth, 
five of her Governors, and a majority of the men who have 
composed, and still compose, the Supreme and other Courts of 
the State. 

In all stations under the National or State governments, 
civil or military, the men of this race, have generally been 



Ul.J^ 



171 

prominent, eminent, patriotic and faithful, wise, judicious, and 
deliberate in council, resolute, unwavering and inflexible in the 
discharge of duty; and when called by their country, to face 
the public enemy in arms, there were none more brave, fear- 
less and intrepid. 

It is hoped, that the compilers of Pennsylvania History, 
hereafter, in their review of the progress of improvement, in 
our great Commonwealth, in education, arts, science, and man- 
ufactures; in the promotion of elevated religious and Christian 
influence; in the establishment of seminaries of learning, and 
in the construction of great inland improvements for travel 
and transportation, will inquire into the authors and founders 
of these institutions, influences, and improvements, investigate 
their pretensions, and do justice at least to their merits and 
memory. Let them not presume to give point to a paragraph, 
by heaping on a whole race, some stale and unjust reproach 
from a bygone calumniator and enemy. 

It behooves the men of Pennsylvania, who have State pride 
and emulation, and appreciate her prosperity and greatness, 
as well as the labors, services, and sacrifices of ancestors, who 
did so much to lay the foundation of that prosperity and great- 
ness, to stand by her own men, and manifest for their memo- 
ry the great reverence, which they so eminently deserve. 



lA' 



^ 



^ ^Ltn^'Bi^JL' C4 ^otAyUr 



TRIBUTE 



PRINCIPLES, VIRTUES, HABITS AND PUBLIC USEFULNESS 



%x\^\) m^ 0cotcl) (Savin 0ettler0 



OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



BY A DESCENDANT. 



CHAMBERSBURG, PA. : 

PRINTED BY M. KIEFFER A 00- 

1856. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 365 822 3 ^^ 



